Today, the National Resistance Movement celebrates 30 years in power, after toppling then president Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa on 26th January, 1986.
The National Resistance Army (NRA) that later morphed into the Uganda People’s Defence
Forces (UPDF) waged a five-year war that was popularly known as the Bush War, after the 1980 elections that brought Milton Obote back to power were rigged.
Under Museveni’s leadership, the Constituent Assembly was formed to come up with the 1995 Constitution. Museveni stood for elections in 1996 and 2001 won.
The Constitution provided for a president to rule for two-five year terms, but in what was termed as the “third term project”, this provision was amended by Parliament in 2005, allowing Museveni to stand in 2006. He stood again in 2011 and won. Uganda goes to the polls on February 18th and President Museveni is still on the ballot as the NRM flag bearer.
The Constitution provides for an age limit of 75 for someone to stand for the top office in the land, but we await to see what happens come the 2021 elections.
President Museveni is not alone among Presidents who have ruled for over that years. Below are some of his compatriots.
36 years: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea.
Came to power in a coup on August 3, 1979. He was officially named president on October 12, 1982.
36 years: Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Angola.
Leader of the party which won independence from Portugal in 1975, Dos Santos has been in power since September 20, 1979.
35 years: Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe.
The only living African leader to have been continuously in power since his country’s independence, Mugabe became prime minister in April 1980 and president in 1987.
33 years: Paul Biya, Cameroon.
Came to power on November 6, 1982.
30 years: Yoweri Museveni, Uganda.
Took office in January 1986 after winning the war which ousted the brutal regime of Idi Amin Dada, with help from neighbouring Tanzania.
29 years: King Mswati III, Swaziland.
Acceded to the throne of the tiny southern African kingdom in April 1986, four years after the death of his father.
26 years: Omar al-Bashir, Sudan.
Has ruled since he seized power in a coup in June 1989.
25 years: Idriss Deby, Chad.
Emerged as the leader of the arid north-central African state in December 1990, after the war which ousted the regime of Hissein Habre.