Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, is seeking to run for a seventh term in office, after nearly four decades leading the East African Nation.

A vast majority of citizens have never known any other leader aside from the 81-year-old president and former rebel.

Museveni came to power in 1986, on a wave of optimism after leading insurgencies against autocratic governments.

According to Kristof Titeca, a professor at the University of Antwerp, “Corruption has been central to his rule from the beginning.

Muzeveni’s main rival in the presidential election is Boni Wine, a 43-year-old pop star.

Political analysts say that while victory for Museveni is all but certain, the road ahead is clouded by uncertainty, with the president starting to show signs of frailty.

Reflecting on the rapid rise of Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and Uganda’s military chief, University professor Titeca said, “The big question looming over the election is the question of succession”

Uganda’s opposition has accused Museveni of fast-tracking Kainerugaba’s military career to prepare him to eventually succeed him, even with the 51-year-old frequently taking to X to make inflammatory remarks, while veteran politicians who once fought alongside Museveni in the bush have been sidelined.

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The election outcome could determine Museveni’s next move, with a poor showing potentially prompting him to promote other party members and deflect criticism of an outright dynastic succession, said former newspaper editor Charles Onyango-Obbo.

“This is less about the results that will be announced, and more about the mood on the ground,” Onyango-Obbo, added, saying that a handover could be some years away.

“Museveni is more frail now, but he is a workaholic… he will not leave even if he needs to use a walking stick,” he said.

Source: Nation