Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, now 81 years old, remains one of Africa’s most dominant and enduring political figures. Born on September 15, 1944, in Ntungamo District in western Uganda, Museveni has ruled the country continuously since 1986, shaping Uganda’s political, military, and social landscape for nearly four decades.
Museveni grew up in a rural setting, herding cattle in his youth, an experience he has often cited as shaping his discipline and resilience. He later attended Ntare School, one of Uganda’s most prestigious institutions, before proceeding to the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, where he studied economics and political science. At the university, he was influenced by pan-African and Marxist and interacted with other future African leaders, laying the ideological foundation for his later political path.
His rise to power came through armed struggle. Following years of instability after the fall of Idi Amin, Museveni launched a guerrilla war under the National Resistance Army (NRA) against the government of Milton Obote. After five years of fighting, his forces captured Kampala in January 1986, and Museveni was sworn in as president, promising to end sectarian politics and rebuild a broken nation.
In his early years, Museveni won widespread praise for restoring relative stability, reviving the economy, and strengthening state institutions. Uganda became a regional military power and an important ally in East and Central Africa, particularly in peacekeeping and counter-terrorism efforts.
Beyond politics, Museveni is a family man. He is married to Janet Kataaha Museveni, Uganda’s First Lady and a long-serving politician who has held several cabinet positions, including Minister for Education and Sports. The couple has four children, the most prominent being Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a senior military officer widely viewed as a potential successor.
Their daughters include Natasha Karugire, Patience Rwabwogo, and Diana Kamuntu, who generally maintain lower public profiles.
As Museveni’s time in power has stretched on, controversy has followed. Constitutional amendments removing presidential term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017 enabled him to continue contesting elections. Opposition groups and human-rights organizations accuse his government of suppressing dissent, curbing media freedom, and using state machinery to maintain power.
Supporters, however, argue that his leadership has ensured stability in a region often marked by conflict.
At 81, Museveni remains firmly in charge, commanding loyalty within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the security forces. As debates over succession intensify, his legacy continues to divide opinion,hailed by some as a liberator and nation-builder, and criticized by others as a leader who has stayed too long.
Yoweri Museveni’s story is inseparable from Uganda’s modern history,one defined by revolution, resilience, power, and an ongoing struggle over the country’s democratic future.
