President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, after securing victory in the country’s disputed January elections.
The 81-year-old leader, who first took power as a rebel commander in 1986, was inaugurated at the Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital, Kampala, amid tight security and heavy deployment of armoured vehicles across the city on Tuesday.
According to election results, Museveni won more than 70 per cent of the votes cast, with his new tenure expected to run until 2031.
His main challenger, Bobi Wine, rejected the outcome, alleging widespread irregularities and ballot manipulation during the polls.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, described the election results as “fake” and accused the government of undermining democracy.
The 44-year-old opposition figure later fled the country, claiming he feared for his life.
“The regime wanted to eliminate me,” he reportedly said after leaving Uganda.
Election officials, however, dismissed allegations of fraud and maintained that the polls were free and fair.
Museveni, now among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, joins figures such as Denis Sassou Nguesso, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Paul Biya in remaining in power for more than four decades.
Several African leaders attended the inauguration ceremony, including Samia Suluhu Hassan, Félix Tshisekedi, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Although the Ugandan leader has not publicly indicated when he plans to retire, political analysts have speculated that the current tenure could be his final term in office.
Attention has increasingly shifted toward his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has been widely viewed as a possible successor.
The military chief has, however, faced criticism over controversial social media posts targeting opposition figures, including Wine.
