Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, at 79 years old and nearing four decades in power, has dropped hints about retirement while leaving the door open for another term. His sprawling cattle ranch in Rwakitura, 250 kilometers southwest of the capital, beckons, but two key factors hold him back: NRM party approval and a prosperous, secure Africa.
Museveni’s iron grip on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) is undeniable. He wields the party as an extension of the state, making dissent within its ranks a perilous gamble. While many in the NRM wouldn’t dare challenge him, his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has expressed impatience, declaring his tiredness of “waiting forever.”
However, Museveni’s exit hinges on two conditions. First, the NRM, his loyal machine, must deem him replaceable and choose a successor he trusts. Second, he dreams of leaving behind a prosperous and secure Africa, a vision he sees as unfinished business.
“Rwakitura is always waiting,” he declared in a recent interview, dismissing concerns about his need for a job. “But the problem is to transition Africa… to a position where we are safe in the world, and prosperous.”
This ambiguity leaves Ugandans and the world guessing. Despite dismissing claims of a 2031 handover, his veiled hints about retirement raise questions about the 2026 elections. Will he run again, solidifying his grip on power? Or will he finally step aside, paving the way for a new chapter in Ugandan politics?
Only time will tell if Museveni’s ranch in Rwakitura will become his final destination, or if he’ll continue to steer Uganda’s course, leaving a legacy as complex and controversial as his long reign.
