Museveni, Yoeri

1944–
President of Uganda

Yoweri Museveni, a former political activist, became president of UGANDA in 1986. Under his leadership, Uganda has achieved considerable political stability and economic growth. As a youth Museveni organized a movement to prevent pastoralists from being forced off their lands. He attended the University of Dar es Salaam in TANZANIA, where he led a student group dedicated to African independence. He later worked for Ugandan president Milton OBOTE.

In 1971 Idi AMIN DADA overthrew President Obote. Museveni then formed a guerrilla group that fought Amin and toppled him in 1979. The following year Obote was chosen president in an election widely seen as fraudulent. Museveni organized another rebel group, the National Resistance Army, to challenge Obote. The rebels eventually seized power and Museveni became president in 1986.

As president, Museveni has created a strong, centralized state and a disciplined army. He has pursued free-market economic policies and has supported opposition movements in several neighboring countries. In 1995 he oversaw the adoption of a new Ugandan constitution. He won the presidential election held the following year and was reelected in 2001.