By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Uganda’s President has been sworn in for a record seventh consecutive term following his landslide victory in highly disputed polls, extending his tenure as one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.
Yoweri Museveni, 81 was declared the winner of the election with more than 70% of the vote, with his term expected to end in 2031.
Heavy security, including armoured tanks, were deployed in the capital, Kampala, ahead of the inauguration in what police said were measures intended to maintain public order.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. The government declared the day a public holiday.
African leaders who attended the ceremony included Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Félix Tshisekedi, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Others include Congo-Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Nguesso, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang and Cameroon’s Paul Biya.
Museveni’s main rival, pop star turned politician Bobi Wine, rejected the result, saying the poll was marred by “ballot-stuffing”, an allegation officials denied.
The 44-year-old opposition leader, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, fled the country after the election, saying he feared that “the regime wanted to eliminate me”.
Museveni first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 but since then has won seven elections.
He is among the few African leaders in power for more than 40 years.
Uganda has one of the world’s youngest populations, with majority of the people having known no other president.
Museveni has not indicated when he intends to retire, but analysts say this is likely to be his last term.
His 51-year-old son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the military chief, has been widely tipped as a potential successor.
However, Kainerugaba has increasingly faced criticism for the way he uses social media to threaten the opposition, including Wine.
On X earlier this year, he threatened to have Wine’s testicles removed in posts that have since been removed.
Wine, who leads the National Unity Platform party, said the results of the elections were “fake” and urged Ugandans to fight back for their democracy.
