Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. 1944) is the President of Uganda, having ruled the country since January 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. He rose to power after leading the National Resistance Army (NRA) in a protracted guerrilla war that overthrew the regimes of Idi Amin and later Milton Obote, ending years of political instability. In his early years, Museveni was widely praised domestically and internationally as part of a “new breed” of African leaders, credited with restoring relative stability, reviving the economy, and professionalizing the state after decades of turmoil. Over time, however, Museveni’s rule has become increasingly personalized and authoritarian. Constitutional changes removed presidential term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017, enabling him to extend his tenure indefinitely. While his government continues to emphasize security, economic growth, and regional influence, critics cite shrinking democratic space, repression of opposition figures, and electoral manipulation. Despite this, Museveni remains a central regional power broker, particularly in security matters in the Great Lakes region, Somalia, and South Sudan, giving Uganda outsized influence in East African geopolitics.