Uganda’s President Yowrei Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh – and possibly final – five-year term in office, as the country prepares to become an oil producer by the end of the year.
Museveni took the oath of office on Tuesday and received the ceremonial instruments of power in the capital, Kampala.
His seventh term in office will be marked by the start of oil production, with France's TotalEnergies and China's Cnooc expected to begin crude production at their Uganda fields in October.
The swearing-in ceremony, attended by dozens of heads of state, was Museveni's seventh – and possibly his last.
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Dynastic ambitions
After 40 years as president, the 81-year-old has increasingly been relying on his son and presumptive heir, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
"Many Ugandans close to power have learned this lesson – that the president is old and exhausted, both intellectually and physically," Andrew Mwenda, a close ally and friend of Kainerugaba, wrote last month in The Independent newspaper.
Kainerugaba, however, is unlikely to win an election to power. Museveni's January victory was marred by rigging allegations, and opposition leader Bobi Wine rejected the outcome of the vote.
A takeover by Kainerugaba would require a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers in the ruling party to appoint him as Museveni's successor, or an unconstitutional seizure of power.
Parliamentary speaker Anita Among said last month that legislators would do everything possible to assist Kainerugaba in his pursuit of the presidency.
"For the sake of MK, just assure MK that we will do whatever it takes," Among told a group of lawmakers celebrating the general's birthday, using Kainerugaba's initials.
Shifting principles
Museveni first took power by force in 1986, as the leader of a guerrilla movement whose goal was to democratise Uganda after years of chaos and civil war.
He said at the time that Africa's problem was leaders who overstayed their welcome. He later revised that position, saying his criticism was of leaders who prolonged their rule without an electoral mandate.
Since taking power, Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement, which dominates parliament, have changed the constitution several times to remove age and term limits and enable him to retain the presidency.
(with newswires)
