On Saturday, President Yoweri Museveni officially announced his intention to run for a seventh term, pledging once again to eliminate corruption—an issue he has repeatedly promised to address during his nearly four decades in power. Since assuming office in 1986, Museveni has led Uganda through six election cycles, each time campaigning on themes of peace, economic growth, and improved governance. Yet, many of these pledges remain partially fulfilled or unfulfilled.
His highest electoral victory came in 1996, garnering 74 percent of votes against DP’s Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere. This period was marked by a strong voter turnout and support for Museveni’s emphasis on economic stabilization, peace, and HIV/AIDS control. Inflation had been reduced dramatically, and economic growth was solid. Despite these successes, internal conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Uganda’s involvement in the Second Congo War soon followed, resulting in heavy casualties and financial costs.
In 2001, Museveni faced new competition from former ally Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye. Campaigning on the promise of democratic consolidation and future power transition, Museveni won 69 percent of the vote. However, his commitment to succession was contradicted by the 2005 constitutional amendment that removed term limits, allowing him to continue seeking re-election indefinitely. This period also saw rising concerns about human rights violations and media suppression.
By 2006, after the LRA was pushed back, Museveni shifted focus to national prosperity, especially in the north. His Prosperity for All initiative came at a time when the economy was growing, and poverty levels had declined. Despite this, the share of subsistence farmers remained high. His popularity slipped, securing 59 percent of votes, with Besigye closing the gap at 37 percent.
In 2011, Museveni promised better service delivery and job creation. Though economic growth continued and unemployment declined nationally, youth unemployment remained high. The president promised 2.5 million jobs, but only 800,000 materialized. Corruption persisted, with Uganda performing poorly on global corruption indices.
During the 2016 campaign, Museveni emphasized modernity and development. He again faced Besigye and won with 5.9 million votes. However, this term was plagued by rising crime, political unrest, high-profile assassinations, and terrorist threats, exposing cracks in his promised stability. There were increasing reports of arbitrary arrests, human rights abuses, and a lack of accountability.
In 2021, under the slogan “Securing Your Future,” Museveni confronted a new rival, pop star-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. To counter his youthful opponent’s appeal, Museveni rebranded by appealing to urban youth and launched the Parish Development Model (PDM) to uplift Ugandans from subsistence farming. While the program reached over 2.6 million beneficiaries, critics argue it failed to make a meaningful impact on poverty. Parliamentarians and civil society leaders cited systemic flaws, corruption, and failure to address real structural issues.
The 2024 census data showed widespread unemployment, with only 9.4 million of 25.1 million working-age Ugandans employed. Youths aged 18–30 remain the most affected demographic, with over 5 million categorized as not in employment, education, or training. Corruption remains rampant, with losses estimated at Shs10 trillion annually. Despite arrests, there have been few convictions, and critics accuse the government of tolerating or enabling systemic corruption.
Across his six campaigns, Museveni consistently promised to fight corruption, improve service delivery, create jobs, and maintain peace and security. While some achievements have been made, particularly in infrastructure and economic growth, many Ugandans argue that the lived reality falls short of the promises repeated over the decades.