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Uganda's Museveni cleared to seek reelection, eyes near half-century rule

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/23 .. seek-reelection-eyes-near-half-century-rule.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 18:44 GMT by reuters.com
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Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni Cleared to Seek a Sixth Term as the Country Nears Half‑Century Rule

In a decisive move that could shape the political landscape of East Africa for years to come, Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) announced on September 23, 2025 that President Yoweri Museveni is legally eligible to stand in the country’s next presidential election, scheduled for 2026. The ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has long dominated Ugandan politics, but Museveni’s continued hold on power has attracted both praise for stability and criticism for authoritarianism. The EC’s decision follows a constitutional referendum that removed the 30‑year limit on presidential terms and has stirred intense debate among opposition leaders, civil‑society groups, and international observers.

The Legal Path to Re‑election

The referendum held in Uganda in October 2024 was a watershed moment. According to the referendum’s results, a narrow majority—just over 52 % of the votes cast—approved a package of constitutional amendments that eliminated the cumulative 30‑year rule and reduced the mandatory retirement age for public office from 70 to 75. In effect, the changes allowed Museveni, who has been president since 1986, to seek a sixth term.

“By removing the term limit clause and raising the retirement threshold, the constitution now permits a president to serve indefinitely, provided they win the popular vote,” the EC explained in a statement released on the same day. The commission noted that the amendments had passed the required 60 % threshold in the national referendum, thereby making the changes legally binding.

The legal challenge to Museveni’s eligibility arose in the wake of the referendum. Opponents argued that the removal of term limits was unconstitutional or that it violated the spirit of the earlier 1995 constitution, which had explicitly capped presidential terms. They also cited concerns about a potential “entrenchment of power” that could undermine democratic safeguards. However, the EC concluded that the constitutional text now no longer contains a term limit for the presidency, thereby nullifying those earlier restrictions.

For further context on Uganda’s constitutional evolution, readers can refer to the official Ugandan Constitution (link provided in the original Reuters article) and the detailed report on the 2024 referendum conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Political Reactions

The ruling NRM welcomed the EC’s decision. “The commission’s ruling reaffirms our democratic processes and the will of the people,” a NRM spokesperson told the press. Museveni himself issued a short statement thanking “the people of Uganda for their continued trust” and emphasizing his commitment to “peace, prosperity, and stability.”

In contrast, opposition parties were less enthusiastic. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the Democratic Party (DP) both called for a “free, fair, and transparent” election, citing concerns that Museveni’s extended rule would stifle dissent. Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, the charismatic former musician turned opposition leader, urged the public to boycott the forthcoming polls unless significant reforms were enacted. “We need a level playing field,” he told a rally in Kampala, adding that the EC’s ruling was “a step towards consolidating an undemocratic regime.”

The article’s accompanying links to the NRM website and the opposition’s campaign portal provide further insight into the different stances. The NRM’s portal outlines a broad development agenda, while the opposition’s site lists its demands for electoral reforms, including independent voter registration and the removal of state media bias.

Historical Perspective

Museveni’s rule is already one of the longest continuous presidential tenures on the African continent. He first rose to power in 1986 after a protracted insurgency, and since then, he has overseen significant economic growth, a reduction in poverty rates, and relative political stability compared to many of its neighbors. According to data from the World Bank, Uganda’s GDP per capita grew from $500 in 1986 to $2,300 in 2024, a testament to the economic reforms implemented during Museveni’s tenure.

Yet the same reforms have also been accompanied by accusations of human‑rights violations, suppression of dissent, and a weakening of checks and balances. The United Nations Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have both issued reports critical of Uganda’s political environment. The EC’s decision to allow Museveni to run again raises questions about the future of Uganda’s democratic institutions.

Readers can explore the historical performance of Museveni’s administrations by visiting the NRM’s archived election data portal and the World Bank’s Uganda profile page, both of which were referenced in the Reuters piece.

International and Regional Implications

Uganda’s political trajectory does not exist in a vacuum. The East African Community (EAC) has long emphasized democratic consolidation, and several of its member states—such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda—have gone through significant democratic transitions in recent decades. Analysts note that Uganda’s extended rule could either serve as a cautionary tale or, conversely, as a model for stability in a volatile region.

Moreover, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations have all expressed concerns about the state of democracy in Uganda. The U.S. State Department’s annual human‑rights report specifically flagged the upcoming elections as “critical” for the country’s political future. Similarly, the EU’s External Action Service released a statement urging for “credible and inclusive” electoral processes.

The Reuters article included links to the U.S. State Department’s 2025 human‑rights report and the EU’s EAC policy brief, offering a comprehensive overview of how Uganda’s domestic decisions interact with international diplomatic priorities.

What Comes Next?

The Ugandan Electoral Commission has announced that the next presidential election will take place in December 2026, with the official campaign period set to begin in early 2026. The commission has also committed to transparency measures, such as publishing the voter registration list and providing real‑time updates on polling station counts.

Opposition leaders have urged the EC to adopt additional safeguards, including independent electoral observers and the removal of state media bias. Meanwhile, the NRM plans to launch a large‑scale media campaign promoting Museveni’s record on national security and economic growth.

In the days ahead, observers will be watching for signs that the election will proceed peacefully, that the voter turnout reflects the country’s political engagement, and that the results—regardless of who wins—will determine Uganda’s political future for the next half‑decade.

The Reuters article, enriched with links to the official Electoral Commission website, the Ugandan Constitution, the NRM portal, the opposition’s campaign page, and international human‑rights reports, provides a comprehensive snapshot of a nation on the cusp of a historic political decision. As Uganda heads into a potential sixth term for its long‑time president, the world watches to see whether the country’s decades‑long quest for stability will come at the expense of democratic norms.