Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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President Yoweri Museveni has led Uganda since January 26, 1986, by launching and winning a five-year guerrilla bush war. He led the National Resistance Army (NRA) to overthrow the military junta led by General Tito Okello., making him one of Africa's longest-serving presidents. Throughout those four decades, he has repeatedly spoken about retirement, succession and the need for leadership renewal. Yet, at different moments in Uganda's political history, those declarations have given way to new political realities, leaving what was once described as "the last term" constantly redefined.
#1995–1996: "Five Years Is Enough"
As Uganda drafted the 1995 Constitution, Museveni frequently argued that Africa's biggest problem was leaders who overstayed in power. He publicly maintained that a committed leader only needed about five years to make a meaningful impact.
While preparing the NRM manifesto for the 1996 elections, Museveni reportedly went a step further by indicating that he would not seek another term after completing the one he was contesting. According to The Independent, Former ministers Bidandi Ssali and Amanya Mushega are said to have advised him against putting such a pledge in writing, arguing that if he truly intended to retire, he could simply do so when the time came rather than making a formal promise.
After winning the election, Museveni again told journalists that he did not intend to seek another presidential term.
#2001: "My Last Term"
Despite the earlier declarations, Museveni sought re-election in 2001 against his former physician and ally, Dr. Kizza Besigye. During that campaign, he again assured Ugandans that this would be his final five-year term under the Constitution's two-term limit.
Former Ethics Minister Miria Matembe has since revealed that she personally appealed to Besigye not to challenge Museveni aggressively, believing the President would peacefully retire after five years. According to Matembe, Besigye warned them that Museveni would instead amend the Constitution and remain in office.
#2003–2005: The Term Limits Campaign
Barely two years after promising it would be his last term, efforts to remove presidential term limits began gathering momentum.
The campaign, largely associated with then-Secretary General Amama Mbabazi, culminated in the 2004 NRM National Conference at Kyankwanzi, where Museveni persuaded hundreds of party leaders to support lifting the constitutional restriction.
Former army commander and presidential aspirant Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, who attended the meeting, has argued that the amendments succeeded largely because many senior leaders failed to openly challenge the proposal despite privately disagreeing with it.
In 2005, Parliament formally removed presidential term limits, allowing Museveni to contest the 2006 election and every subsequent election thereafter.
#2012: "Not Past 75"
During an interview with NTV Uganda in 2012, Museveni was asked whether anyone should govern beyond the age of 75.
He answered in the negative, arguing that leaders beyond that age naturally lose the vigour required to effectively run a country.Watch here.
2015: Sole Candidate
As the 2016 elections approached, another succession debate emerged—this time involving then-Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, who was widely believed to be preparing to challenge Museveni for the NRM flag.
Instead, the party rallied behind Museveni's sole candidature.
The campaign was publicly championed by then-State Minister Evelyn Anite, who famously knelt before Museveni at Kyankwanzi while presenting a resolution endorsing him as the NRM's sole presidential candidate.
#2017: The Age Limit Falls
Five years after saying leaders should not govern beyond 75, Parliament again amended the Constitution by removing the presidential age limit following the highly contested "Togikwatako" (Don't touch it) debate.
The amendment enabled Museveni to contest the 2021 election and remain eligible for future presidential races.
#2026: Four Decades Later
Now, in 2026—40 years after taking power in 1986—President Museveni is once again Uganda's President after winning the 2026 General Elections in January, beating Robert Kyagulanyi ssentamu popularly Known as Bobiwine in what the NRM referred to as a "Hands down" hence another term in office.
Over the years, promises of retirement have repeatedly been followed by constitutional amendments, fresh political endorsements or changing circumstances that extended his stay in power.
Whether viewed as political pragmatism, strategic leadership or unfulfilled promises, Museveni's evolving retirement declarations have become one of the defining stories of Uganda's contemporary politics. Forty years on, the phrase "the last term" remains one of the country's most enduring and most debated political expressions.
