Ugandan President Yoweri Sworn In For Seventh Term, Spends Over 40 Years In Office
Ugandan President Yoweri Sworn In For Seventh Term, Spends Over 40 Years In Office
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala with videos shared on official pages of Yoweri where thousands of supporters gathered as the 81-year-old leader took the oath of office amid tight security and celebrations by members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Nearly four decades after first seizing power through an armed rebellion, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday renewed his hold on the East African nation after being sworn in for a seventh term following his victory in January’s disputed presidential election.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala with videos shared on official pages of Yoweri where thousands of supporters gathered as the 81-year-old leader took the oath of office amid tight security and celebrations by members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, secured 71.65 percent of the vote, according to Uganda’s Electoral Commission.
His closest challenger, opposition politician and musician Bobi Wine — whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi — polled 24.72 percent but rejected the outcome, describing the election as fraudulent and alleging widespread ballot stuffing and electoral malpractice.
Museveni first came to power in 1986 after leading a successful rebel insurgency that ousted the previous government.
Over the years, his administration has overseen major constitutional amendments, including the removal of presidential term and age limits, changes that paved the way for him to remain in office indefinitely.
The Ugandan leader has also faced repeated accusations from opposition figures and rights groups of using security agencies to intimidate opposition politicians, supporters and critics.
In March, Bobi Wine, whose full name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alleged that security operatives linked to the government raided the residence of one of his aides and abducted the aide’s wife after failing to find him at home.
In a statement shared on social media, Wine said the operatives targeted the home of his assistant, identified as Najja Sherif.
According to the opposition figure, the operatives carried out the raid but did not find Sherif at the residence.
“Regime security operatives have raided the home of my assistant, Comrade Najja Sherif. When they found he was not around, they abducted his wife instead after she told them she did not know his whereabouts. What a cowardly regime,” Wine said.
The allegations added to growing concerns repeatedly raised by opposition groups over political repression and the shrinking democratic space in Uganda, issues that continue to cast a shadow over Museveni’s extended rule despite his government’s insistence that the country remains stable and democratic.
