Uganda’s Museveni Seeks Seventh Term, Cementing Nearly Five Decades of Authoritarian Rule

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s recent move to seek nomination for a seventh presidential term highlights a disturbing pattern of entrenched authoritarianism that undermines democratic values and national sovereignty in East Africa. Since seizing power in 1986 as head of a rebel force, the octogenarian leader has stubbornly clung to power, dismissing calls for retirement and opposition voices alike. His decades-long rule, approaching half a century, showcases how political longevity can morph into autocratic control under the guise of electoral legitimacy. The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), once hailed as a liberating force, now operates without meaningful internal opposition. Recent elections...