Ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2021 in Uganda, the ruling National Resistance Movement party (NRM) has announced that the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni, has picked up nomination papers in a bid to seek another term in office – a move that could extend the long-serving president’s tenure to four decades.

The party made this known on Tuesday through its spokesman, Rogers Mulindwa, who verified the news in an interview with Reuters saying: “Yes, we can confirm he has picked nomination forms for our flagbearer position,” adding that no one else in the party had indicated an interest in running for the top seat against Museveni.

The country’s Electoral Commission (EC) had previously announced that the country will hold its presidential election between January 10 and February 8, 2021. The upcoming presidential elections will also see a new player entering the game and raising the stakes in the form of pop star and lawmaker Bobi Wine, whose campaign has gathered momentum in the country, especially among young voters.

Complicated Rule

Since coming into power in 1986, Museveni, whose tenure is only surpassed by Equitorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang (1979) and Cameroon’s Paul Biya (1982), has been criticized for refusing to relinquish power, failing to quell corruption in the country, his autocratic leadership style and attempts to stifle opposition.

More recently, Museveni has been accused of using anti-coronavirus measures like a ban on public gatherings and also the deployment of security agents to intimidate and stall the preparation of opponents.  

“Coronavirus measures have become a tool for Museveni to control and destroy opposition to his rule,” said opposition lawmaker Semujju Ibrahim Nganda.

Over the last three decades, Museveni has won five presidential elections in Uganda and worked with the NRM dominated parliament to remove an age gap from the constitution to make it easier for him to seek another term.