Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni Sworn In for Seventh Term

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his seventh term as president, following a landslide victory in the January election. The 81-year-old leader took the oath of office at an event held at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Thousands of attendees cheered him on.

The election, which took place amid reports of internet blackouts and intimidation, saw Museveni win 71.65 percent of the vote, according to the Electoral Commission. Opposition leader Bobi Wine received 24.72 percent of the vote. Wine alleged that “massive” ballot stuffing occurred during the election.

Human Rights Watch reported that Ugandan authorities have been involved in “intensified attacks” on opposition supporters and leaders, including mass arrests and disappearances. During Wine’s campaign, security forces repeatedly interrupted his rallies, arresting supporters and killing at least one person. After the election, Wine claimed to have escaped a police and army raid on his home, stating that his wife and other family members were under house arrest.

In 1986, Museveni took office and has since changed the constitution twice to remove term and age limits. He is credited with overseeing Uganda’s economic growth and ending post-independence chaos. The opposition has expressed uncertainty about who will eventually replace him, with General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son, being a likely candidate.

Source: Al Jazeera