Yoweri Museveni

President of Uganda since 1986 · Uganda · Politicians · Born 1944 · age 82

Yoweri Museveni is read about 1,622 times a day, in 84 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

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He took power in 1986 after a guerrilla war that toppled two dictatorships, then stayed. Over four decades, Museveni has used banned parties, constitutional rewrites, and ballot stuffing to outlast nearly every leader on earth - now the third longest-serving head of state after two other autocrats.

Politicians Politician Politics Literature 20th Century

A life in dates

20263.5×2026 Ugandan general election: a change of office on 12 May 2026.12 May 2026What this moment rests on, 3.5 times the usual readers on 13 May 2026

Africanews, Reuters

See the moment2024Secretary General of the Non-Aligned MovementOffice2023Order of South AfricaAward2016Order of the Republic of SerbiaAward2014International Kim Il-sung PrizeAward2009National Liberation MedalAward2007“We fought a lonely battle against terrorism sponsored by Sudan, and we have defeated it; we cannot be intimidated by any force.”In their words26 November 2007Assuring Ugandans that nobody can disrupt their peace (26 November 2007),Read the whole statement

“You cannot, for instance, sustainably protect the environment if the majority of the people are still in primitive agriculture leading to the encroachment of forest reserves.”In their words23 November 2007At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (23 November 2007), as quoted in "Listen to the young, says Queen" (23 November 2007), BBCRead the whole statement

“I shall not be deterred by people who don't see where the future of Africa lies. It is the short-sighted people who put their opinions in writing.”In their words13 April 2007Defending the allocation of forest land to a sugar company (13 April 2007), as quoted in "Uganda leader defends forest plan" (13 AprilRead the whole statement

Commonwealth Chair-in-OfficeOffice2007-20092005“If General Omar el Bashir's government gives me permission to pursue Kony beyond the red line, it will only take me 30 minutes to finish him and his fighters.”In their words23 September 2005As quoted in "Uganda's 19-year-old rebellion nears end: military" (23 September 2005), People's Daily, China: People's Daily OnlineRead the whole statement

1997Order of Good HopeAward1990Chairperson of the Organisation of African UnityOffice1990-19911988Order of Playa GirónAward1986“This is not a mere change of guards, I think this is a fundamental change in the politics of our government.”In their words26 January 1986First public speech as Ugandan president (26 January 1986), as quoted in "Rebel Sworn in as Uganda President" (30 January 1986), by SheilaRead the whole statement

President of UgandaOffice1972“In 1972, Idi Amin expelled 80,000 [Ugandan] Indians and confiscated their 4,000 properties.”In their wordsAs quoted in "President Museveni Highlights Ugandan Achievements for Americans: Ugandan leader proud of political opening, economic growthRead the whole statement

1944Born15 September 1944

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Yoweri Museveni September 2015

BushMuseveniEntebbe2003

Abdolrashidi & MUSEVINI1

African land force chiefs meet to discuss security at ALFS 12 (7208407578)

African land force chiefs meet to discuss security at ALFS 12 (7208407858)

African Land Forces Summit 2012 (7254277768)

Aga Khan Uganda

ATMIS TCCs heads of State call for renewed support to Somalia at Kampala Summit (52852637301)

In their own words 10

Yoweri Museveni

10 statements, newest first

We fought a lonely battle against terrorism sponsored by Sudan, and we have defeated it; we cannot be intimidated by any force.
Nov 26, 2007, Assuring Ugandans that nobody can disrupt their peace (26 November 2007),, Own words
You cannot, for instance, sustainably protect the environment if the majority of the people are still in primitive agriculture leading to the encroachment of forest reserves.
Nov 23, 2007, At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (23 November 2007), as quoted in "Listen to the young, says Queen" (23 November 2007), BBC, Own words
I shall not be deterred by people who don't see where the future of Africa lies. It is the short-sighted people who put their opinions in writing.
Apr 13, 2007, Defending the allocation of forest land to a sugar company (13 April 2007), as quoted in "Uganda leader defends forest plan" (13 April, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

On YouTube

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Awards

Order of South Africa2023

Order of the Republic of Serbia2016

International Kim Il-sung Prize2014

National Liberation Medal2009

Order of Good Hope1997

Order of Playa Girón1988

Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya

Family

Yoweri Museveni

Partners

Spouse Janet Museveni

Children

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About this person

Born in 1944 in British-controlled Uganda, Museveni studied political science in Dar es Salaam and formed a student revolutionary front. He fought in the failed 1972 invasion against Idi Amin, then helped overthrow him alongside Tanzanian forces in 1979. After losing the 1980 election to Milton Obote - a result he called fraudulent - Museveni launched the Ugandan Bush War. His National Resistance Movement took Kampala in January 1986, and he became president. Political parties were effectively banned until 2005. His government has since scrapped presidential term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017, and the 2021 and 2026 elections were marked by widespread reports of ballot stuffing, kidnappings, and military crackdowns. The 2026 count gave him 71% of the vote.

Country

Uganda

Politicians from Uganda 6

Zohran Mamdani72.3

Idi Amin69.7

Joseph Kony58.0

Milton Obote57.2 Paulo Muwanga55.5

Muteesa II of Buganda54.2

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