Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni | |
|---|---|
Museveni in 2012 | |
| 9th President of Uganda | |
| Assumed office 29 January 1986 Acting: 26–29 January 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | See list
|
| Vice President | See list
|
| Preceded by | Tito Okello |
| 31st Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement | |
| Assumed office 16 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ilham Aliyev |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa 15 September 1944 Ntungamo, then part of the Protectorate of Uganda |
| Political party | NRM |
| Other political affiliations | UPC |
| Spouse |
Janet Museveni (m. 1973) |
| Children | 4, including Muhoozi |
| Parents |
|
| Education | University of Dar es Salaam |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Uganda |
| Branch/service | Front for National Salvation Popular Resistance Army National Resistance Army |
| Years of service | 1971–1986 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | 1972 invasion of Uganda Uganda–Tanzania War Ugandan Bush War |
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa[a] (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician and dictator, former military officer, and who, since 1986, is the ninth president of Uganda. As of 2025, he is the third-longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world (after Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya in Cameroon).[3]
Born in Ntungamo, Museveni studied political science from the University of Dar es Salaam where he initiated the University Students' African Revolutionary Front. In 1972, he participated in the abortive invasion of Uganda against the regime of President Idi Amin. The next year, Museveni established the Front for National Salvation and fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Tanzania–Uganda War, which overthrew Amin. Museveni contested the subsequent 1980 general election on the platform of Uganda Patriotic Movement, though claimed electoral fraud after losing to the unpopular Milton Obote. Museveni unified the opposition under the National Resistance Movement and started the Ugandan Bush War. On January 30, 1986, after the decisive Battle of Kampala, Museveni was sworn as president.[4]
As president, Museveni suppressed the Ugandan insurgency and oversaw involvement in the Rwandan Civil War and the First Congo War. He ordered an intervention against the Lord's Resistance Army in an effort to halt their insurgency. His rule has been described by scholars as competitive authoritarianism, or illiberal democracy. The press has been under the authority of government. His presidency has been characterized by relative economic success and, in its later period, an upsurge in anti-gay activity alongside numerous constitutional amendments, like the scrapping of presidential term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017.[5][6][7]
On 16 January 2021, Museveni was reelected to a sixth term with 58.6% of the vote, despite many videos and reports showing ballot box stuffing, over 400 polling stations with 100% voter turnout and human rights violations.[8] As of 2025, after 39 years of his authoritarian rule, Uganda has been ranked 163rd in GDP (nominal) per capita and 157th by Human Development Index.[9][10]
- ^ "How do you say YOWERI MUSEVENI?". VOA Pronunciation Guide. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Definition of 'Museveni'". Collins Dictionary. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Oluwole, Victor (24 February 2025). "The longest serving African leaders in 2025: Presidents who have ruled for over 30 years". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Lord's Resistance Army: End Game? | International Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Studies, the Africa Center for Strategic. "Scrapping Presidential Age Limits Sets Uganda on a Course of Instability". Africa Center. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-gay bill". BBC News. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Uganda Launch the 2021/2022 Human Development Report". UNDP. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Masaba, John (12 May 2025). "Development Index: Uganda ranks second in EAC". New Vision. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
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