Museveni’s rise was once a symbol of renewal. After leading insurgencies that toppled repressive regimes, he was welcomed as a reformer who understood the costs of dictatorship and the value of accountability. In his early years, stability returned and optimism flourished, both at home and among international partners who saw Uganda as a rare success story in the region.
Over time, however, that goodwill eroded.
Accusations of authoritarianism grew louder as constitutional changes removed presidential term limits and dissent was increasingly constrained. Alongside these developments came persistent claims of corruption, staining the image of a leader who once spoke passionately against the excesses of power.
“Corruption has been central to his rule from the beginning,” said Kristof Titeca, a professor at the University of Antwerp, in an assessment of Museveni’s long tenure.
Today, Uganda stands at a crossroads shaped by irony.
The man who warned against leaders overstaying in power is now one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents. As the country heads to another election, the question confronting Ugandans is no longer about the ideals of 1986, but about how power, once seized in the name of change, has proven difficult to relinquish.
