By Peter Kahindi

15^th September, 2026 marked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 82^nd birthday. 

After taking effective control of Uganda’s leadership in 1986, he has been in power for 40 years. 

Most Ugandans today, including your author, have known only one President all their lives.

This speaks to several things if you allow yourself the objectivity, but, more importantly, if you have made attempts to read about our history.

As some others may have, I have taken time to reflect on this journey. 

Mr. Museveni took power and, in his first speech, promised an end to what had been an endless series of military-inspired coups during the first two decades after our independence. He also undertook to transform the economy through liberalization.

It is fair to make the assessment that these two principal objectives have been accomplished. 

Generally speaking, we have gone through four decades of uninterrupted peace and security, and the economy has visibly improved and significantly so.

The President has also been intentional about ensuring regional stability, directly guiding the systematic restoration of the East African Community.

For some, this has not moved as fast as it should. Yet, for others who are alive to the different circumstances affecting the individual countries, we have made good headway and even expanded the Community.

We witnessed the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, which, unlike the ones before it, was put together after nationwide consultation. 

Nevertheless, over the years the President has presided over some major amendments to it, which some have viewed as undesirable. The outstanding amendments are the lifting of the age limit and raising of term limits. 

We have also witnessed a sporadically narrowing civic space, with political dissent being less and less accommodated as the years went by. 

The hallmark of this was the enactment of the Public Order Management Act (which was later declared unconstitutional by the Courts). 

In the last so many months, we have also seen cases of arbitrary arrests and long periods of detention without trial.

The above shortcomings notwithstanding, Mr. Museveni is Uganda’s constitutionally elected and recognized President, which the sensible amongst us widely accept with a reasonable degree of civility. 

The long stay in and of itself may be considered a sign of a desire to hang on to power, but it can also be considered as a lifetime of tireless dedication to public service. 

Given our current life expectancy, not many would be putting in the kind of energy, commitment, and passion that Mr. Museveni does, every day, for months and years on end.

So, Happy Birthday, President Museveni!

May the wisdom that is supposed to come with 82 years find fertile ground in the decisions still ahead; particularly on the question of what kind of Uganda, and what kind of political system, is left behind for those who will inherit it. 

That, more than any cake or ceremony, would be your most deserving gift as part of your great legacy.

Hongera sana, sir!