Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, a Ugandan military officer, politician, and revolutionary, has been serving as the ninth president of Uganda since 1986. Born on September 15, 1944, Museveni's leadership has been marked by controversy, with his government often described as autocratic.
After losing the 1980 election, Museveni initiated the Ugandan Bush War, which ultimately led to the removal of Milton Obote from power. Since then, his presidency has been characterized by a mix of authoritarianism and illiberal democracy, with the press often under government control.
The Ugandan elections since 1986 have been widely criticized for lacking transparency and fairness, with Museveni's presidency also marked by an increase in anti-gay legislation and activity. His government has been involved in various African conflicts, including the First Congo War, the Rwandan Civil War, and the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in Northern Uganda, which caused a humanitarian emergency.
Museveni has also been responsible for constitutional amendments, scrapping presidential term limits in 2005 and the presidential age limit in 2017. His authoritarian rule has been criticized for its negative impact on Uganda's economy, with the country ranking 166th in GDP (nominal) per capita and 167th by Human Development Index as of 2022.
In 2021, Museveni was re-elected for a sixth term, despite allegations of election fraud and human rights violations. The election was marred by reports of ballot box stuffing, high voter turnout at some polling stations, and human rights abuses.
