Former government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has revealed the only reason President Yoweri Museveni may peacefully hand over power.
Museveni, aged 80, will have ruled Uganda for four decades by January 2026. He is expected to seek reelection for another five-year term in next year’s election.
As The Pearl Times has previously written in many pages of this news publication, as he took power in January 1986, Museveni promised a fundamental change and not just a mere change of guards.
He even diagnosed the problem of Africa as leaders who overstay in power. (Must The Pearl Times remind African leaders that 40 years is overstaying in power?)
But as Museveni ages, discussion on a peaceful transition have gained attention.
For those who do not know, Uganda has never had a peaceful transition of power since independence in 1962.
Armies and political groups have been toppling governments taking over – as Museveni himself did after his bush war that lasted five years and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
After the removal of mandatory presidential term and age limits, Museveni can now run for president for as long as he wishes and feels strong and able to steer the country forward.
As The Pearl Times has previously reported, Museveni is widely expected to seek another term, especially after his son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba paused his 2026 presidential ambitions in favour of his father, as reported Here and There.
According to Ofwono Opondo, there is only one reason Museveni may peacefully hand over power.
Ofwono Opondo, who recently resigned his government spokesperson and Uganda Media Centre Executive Director job to run for a parliamentary seat, says it is widely known within government that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) plans to hand over when Museveni loses an election.
“When President Yoweri Museveni is defeated in an election, we shall handover [power]. We have said this many times,” Ofwono Opondo told NBS Frontline.
Previously, justice minister Norbert Mao claimed that he had discussed with Museveni and sort of ‘agreed with him’ on the year he should peacefully hand over power, but Museveni responded by blasting Norbert Mao in what looked like a deal going wrong, as reported Here, There and There.
In a rare statement recently, Museveni’s wife Janet talked of tears in her eyes, a significant transition and a defining moment for Uganda. Her statement was after she and Museveni apologized to Baganda and other Ugandans, some of whom told them to peacefully hand over power if they mean what they said, as reported Here and There.
You can read about members of Museveni’s family said to have interest in succeeding him if he resigns, retires or peacefully hands over power, Here, There and Over There.
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