Yoweri Museveni


Yoweri Museveni
Museveni in 2015
9th President of Uganda
Assumed office
26 January 1986
Prime Minister
Vice President
  • Samson Kisekka
  • Specioza Kazibwe
  • Gilbert Bukenya
  • Edward Ssekandi
  • Jessica Alupo
Preceded byTito Okello
Personal details
Born (1944-08-15) 15 August 1944
Rukungiri, British Uganda (present-day Uganda)
NationalityUgandan
Political partyNational Resistance Movement
Spouse(s)
Janet Museveni
​
(m. 1973)​
Children4
ParentsAmos Kaguta (father)
EducationUniversity of Dar es Salaam
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Allegiance Uganda
Branch/service
  • Front for National Salvation (1971–1980)
  • Popular Resistance Army (1980–1981)
  • National Resistance Army (1981–1995)
  • Uganda People's Defence Force (1995–present)
Years of service1971–present
RankGeneral
Battles/wars
  • 1972 invasion of Uganda
  • Uganda–Tanzania War
  • Ugandan Bush War
  • First Congo War
  • Second Congo War

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born 15 August 1944) is a Ugandan Military Officer, Politician and revolutionary who is the 9th and current President of Uganda since 1986. After losing the election of 1980, he started the Ugandan Bush War which led to the removal of Milton Obote.[1]

As of 2026, Museveni has ruled Uganda for more than 40 years. He is one of the world's longest-serving non-royal leaders, behind Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. [2]

Born in Ntungamo, Uganda, then under British rule, Museveni studied political science at the University of Dar es Salaam. While there, he started the University Students' African Revolutionary Front. In 1972, he joined a failed attempt to invade Uganda and remove Idi Amin. The following year, Museveni formed the Front for National Salvation and later fought with the Tanzanian army during the Tanzania–Uganda War, which removed Amin from power. Museveni later took part in the 1980 general election under the Uganda Patriotic Movement, but claimed the election had been rigged after Milton Obote was declared winner. He later brought together opposition groups under the National Resistance Movement and started the Ugandan Bush War. On 30 January 1986, after the Battle of Kampala, Museveni became president.[1][3] As president, Museveni fought against rebel groups during the Ugandan insurgency and was involved in the Rwandan Civil War and the First Congo War. He also ordered military action against the Lord's Resistance Army to stop its rebellion. Some scholars have described his government as competitive authoritarianism or an illiberal democracy. The media has often faced government control. His presidency has been linked to economic growth, but also criticism over human rights issues, including laws against LGBTQ people and constitutional changes that removed presidential term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017.[4][5][6].[7]

On 16 January 2021, Museveni On 14 January 2021, Museveni was re-elected for a sixth term with 58.6% of the vote. The election was criticised after reports and videos showed ballot stuffing, polling stations with 100% voter turnout, and human rights abuses.[8][9][10]

In June 2025, Yoweri Museveni announced his candidacy for the January 2025 presidential election. [11].Initial results released on 16 January showed Museveni leading in the 2026 presidential election with 76.25% of the vote, followed by Bobi Wine with 19.85%.[12] [13] On 17 January, Museveni was officially declared the winner of the presidential election with 71.65% of the vote.[14][15] Museveni was later declared winner of the 2026 Ugandan general election with 71% of the vote against Bobi Wine.[16]

Early life

Museveni was born on 15 September 1944 in Ntungamo. His parents were Mzee Amos Kaguta (1916–2013), a cattle keeper, and Esteri Kokundeka Nganzi (1918–2001).[17] He belongs to the Hima ethnic group from the former kingdom of Mpororo, now part of Ankole.[18][19] According to Julius Nyerere, Museveni's father served in the King's African Rifles during World War II. Relatives called him "mu-seven", meaning "one of the seventh battalion", and this later became the name Museveni.[20]

Early leadership role

While at university, Museveni formed the University Students' African Revolutionary Front, a student activist group. He also led a student group to areas controlled by FRELIMO in Portuguese Mozambique, where they received military training.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Yoweri Museveni Fast Facts". CNN. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  2. ↑ "Uganda's president Museveni sworn in for seventh consecutive term as son emerges as de facto ruler". Associated Press. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Africa's Current Longest-Serving Leaders". Voice of America. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  4. ↑ "The Lord's Resistance Army: End Game?". International Crisis Group. 17 November 2011. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Scrapping Presidential Age Limits Sets Uganda on a Course of Instability". Africa Center. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-gay bill". BBC News. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Studies, the Africa Center for Strategic. "Scrapping Presidential Age Limits Sets Uganda on a Course of Instability". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  8. ↑ "Museveni declared winner of disputed Uganda presidential election". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  9. ↑ "Ugandan President Museveni wins sixth term as vote rigging alleged". France 24. 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  10. ↑ "Uganda's Museveni wins sixth term, rival alleges fraud". Reuters. 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  11. ↑ "Uganda: President Museveni, in power since 1986, will be a candidate for re-election". Radio France International. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "At least seven killed overnight in Uganda after tense presidential election". Al Jazeera. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Nzilani, Vincent Mumo; Winning, Alexander. "Ugandan opposition leader 'forcibly taken,' party says, as President Museveni nears reelection". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Uganda's Museveni wins seventh term as observers denounce intimidation". France 24. AFP. 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  15. ↑ "Uganda election descends into deadly violence as President Yoweri Museveni looks to cling to power". Sky News. 16 January 2026. Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026..
  16. ↑ "Uganda's President Museveni Declared Winner in Elections Amid Repression | Human Rights Watch". 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
  17. ↑ "His Excellency Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni". Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Yoweri Museveni – Uganda's president profiled". BBC. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  19. ↑ Momodu, Samuel (24 May 2021). "Yoweri Kuaguta Museveni (1944– )". Blackpast. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Yoweri Museveni". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
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