Along the Shores of Lake Victoria, Time Waits: Uganda and the Long Arc of Power

Morning settles gently over Kampala, the city stirring beneath a familiar rhythm of engines, footsteps, and dust rising with the sun. Lake Victoria lies nearby, broad and patient, reflecting a sky that has watched generations pass. In this place where time often feels layered rather than linear, history does not rush. It lingers, revisits itself, and sometimes returns wearing the same face.

Yoweri Museveni has led Uganda since 1986, a span long enough to outlast global eras and regional realignments. This year, he has declared his intention to seek another term, a seventh, extending a presidency that has already crossed four decades. For many Ugandans, his name is less a political headline than a constant presence, woven into the backdrop of daily life, school textbooks, and the memory of conflict followed by relative stability.

Museveni came to power after years of turmoil, promising order after violence. Over time, his leadership has shaped Uganda’s institutions, economy, and foreign relationships. Roads have been built, cities expanded, and Uganda has positioned itself as a regional security partner. Yet the passage of years has also brought constitutional changes that removed presidential term and age limits, quietly reshaping the rules that once suggested an eventual handover.

The coming election arrives in a country markedly different from the one Museveni first governed. Uganda today is young, with a large portion of its population born decades after his rise to power. This generation moves quickly through digital spaces, social platforms, and urban streets, carrying expectations shaped by a connected world. Their political language is less about liberation wars and more about jobs, prices, and voice.

Opposition figures have emerged from this generational shift, most notably the musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, whose previous campaigns energized younger voters and unsettled established power. His rallies, often disrupted, have been as much about presence as policy, reflecting a desire among supporters to be seen and heard. The political atmosphere has grown tense at times, marked by arrests, restrictions on assemblies, and heightened security during campaign periods.

Around these moments, the state moves carefully, citing stability and order. Internet slowdowns and security deployments have become familiar features of election seasons, shaping how information travels and how campaigns unfold. The rhythm of politics, like the rhythm of the city, is carefully managed, deliberate, and closely watched.

Beyond personalities, there is a quieter conversation unfolding about succession. Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a senior military figure, has drawn attention through public statements and symbolic gestures that suggest future ambitions. These signals hover in the background, unspoken but widely noticed, adding another layer to the narrative of continuity and change.

As Museveni seeks another term, the question is less about surprise than about endurance. What does it mean for a nation when leadership stretches across generations? For some, it represents stability in a region where upheaval is common. For others, it raises concerns about political space narrowing over time. Yet in the streets, markets, and homes of Uganda, these debates often coexist with everyday concerns that are immediate and practical.

The election ahead is scheduled for 2026, and preparations are already underway. Museveni, now in his late seventies, continues to frame his leadership as a necessary guide through uncertain global and regional conditions. His supporters point to experience; his critics point to time itself.

As the calendar turns, Uganda moves toward another familiar moment. The same figure stands at the center, while the country around him continues to change, quietly and persistently. The outcome will be determined at the ballot box under existing electoral processes, with campaigns expected to intensify in the months ahead.

Uganda’s Electoral Commission has confirmed the timeline for the vote, and President Yoweri Museveni has formally indicated his intention to run for another term, extending his tenure that began in 1986.

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Sources (Media Names Only) Reuters Associated Press Al Jazeera Financial Times Africanews