Sun Jun 29 13:09:20 UTC 2025: **Museveni Announces Presidential Bid, Promises Economic Boom Amid Rights Concerns**
**Kampala, Uganda** – President Yoweri Museveni, 80, has officially announced his intention to run for president in the upcoming Ugandan elections scheduled for January, potentially extending his nearly four-decade rule. He made the announcement on Saturday, declaring his interest in becoming the presidential flag bearer for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Museveni, who came to power in 1986, has pledged to transform Uganda into a $500 billion economy within five years, a significant leap from the current GDP of approximately $66 billion. This ambitious economic promise comes as rights groups continue to voice concerns about the increasingly restrictive political climate in the country.
The NRM has previously amended the constitution to remove term and age limits, paving the way for Museveni’s continued leadership. While he denies accusations of using state resources and security forces to suppress dissent, his long tenure has been marked by criticism from human rights organizations.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, the pop star-turned-politician, has confirmed he will challenge Museveni. Wine rejected the results of the 2021 election, citing widespread fraud and intimidation. Tensions have escalated recently following the enactment of a law permitting military courts to try civilians, a move seen by the opposition and rights groups as a tactic to silence critics.
Human Rights Watch has been a vocal critic of Uganda’s use of military courts, citing a lack of judicial independence and fairness. “The Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents and critics,” said Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW. The government defends the law as necessary for addressing national security threats. The upcoming election is expected to be closely contested amid growing concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in Uganda.
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