Uganda’s 81-year-old president, Museveni, was inaugurated for a seventh term

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been inaugurated for a seventh consecutive term, following victory in the country’s disputed January elections.

The 81-year-old leader, who first took power as a rebel commander in 1986, was sworn in at Kololo Independence Square in the capital, Kampala, amid tight security and a large deployment of armored vehicles across the city on Tuesday.

Based on election results, Museveni won more than 70 percent of the vote, and his new term is expected to last until 2031.

His main challenger, Bobi Wine, rejected the election results, alleging widespread irregularities and ballot manipulation during voting.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, described the election results as “fake” and accused the government of undermining democracy.

The 44-year-old opposition figure then left the country, saying he feared for his life.

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“The regime wants to eliminate me,” he said after leaving Uganda.

However, election officials dismissed accusations of fraud and said the election was free and fair.

Museveni, now one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, joins figures such as Denis Sassou Nguesso, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Paul Biya who have remained in power for more than four decades.

Several African leaders attended the inauguration ceremony, including Samia Suluhu Hassan, Félix Tshisekedi, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Although the Ugandan leader has not publicly announced when he plans to retire, political analysts speculate that his current term may be his last.

Attention has increasingly turned to his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is widely seen as a potential successor.

However, the military chief has faced criticism over controversial posts on social media targeting opposition figures, including Wine.