Yoweri Museveni has declared a new era focused on wealth creation<\/p>\n
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, extending his rule of more than four decades as one of Africa\u2019s longest serving leaders.
\nThe 81-year-old took the oath of office Tuesday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala after securing more than 70% of the vote in the election in January.
\nThe ceremony was attended by diplomats and several African leaders, including Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Democratic Republic of the Congo\u2019s Felix Tshisekedi, South Sudan\u2019s Salva Kiir, and Tanzania\u2019s Samia Suluhu Hassan.
\nIn his inauguration speech, Museveni declared a new era of \u201cno more sleep\u201d for the nation, focusing on wealth creation, job generation, and the elimination of corruption and complacency. He urged citizens to \u201cwake up\u201d and embrace economic transformation by engaging in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT, warning that the country \u201ccan no longer afford complacency.\u201d
\nMuseveni showcased a long list of achievements under his administration since 1986, backing his claims with photos as evidence, including major infrastructure projects, the restoration of peace and stability, and sustained economic growth.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn 2013, only 32% of the homesteads in Uganda were in the money economy. At Independence in 1962, only 9.4% were in the money economy. On account of the work of OWC [Operation Wealth Creation] and PDM [Parish Development Model], the homesteads in the money economy are now 67%,\u201d he said.
\nMuseveni became president in 1986 following the overthrow of Milton Obote\u2019s government. He won Uganda\u2019s first multiparty elections in 2006 and has remained in power through subsequent elections and constitutional amendments that removed presidential term limits. He is currently the world\u2019s third-longest consecutively serving non-royal head of state, after Equatorial Guinea\u2019s Teodoro Obiang Nguema and Cameroon\u2019s Paul Biya.<\/p>\n
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Museveni\u2019s government has drawn criticism from Western countries for allegedly suppressing opposition and enacting some of the world\u2019s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws. He has dismissed these criticisms as foreign interference.
\nHis main rival, Robert Kyagulanyi \u2013 popularly known as Bobi Wine \u2013 who secured 24.72% of the vote, rejected the results, alleging massive ballot stuffing. However, election observers, including those from the African Union and Russia, said the election was conducted in an orderly and transparent manner.
\nFollowing his victory, Museveni said he would have \u201cembarrassed\u201d the opposition \u201cbadly\u201d if 10 million more of his supporters had taken part. His new term will run until 2031.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yoweri Museveni has declared a new era focused on wealth creation Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, extending his rule of more than…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t