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President Museveni is a man of uncommon courage and firm convictions. He disregards his personal safety and comfort in favour of the national interest. His calling to politics stems from a strong and unrelenting dedication to finding long-term answers to society’s problems. He is a results-driven leader.

President Museveni displays exceptional understanding of the historical and social challenges of African societies. This is what inspired his direct involvement in the liberation and emancipation of his countrymen and women.

President Museveni has been politically active since his school days. He started his anti-poverty drive as early as 1959, first among his Banyankole kinsmen when he joined Mbarara High School. He strongly discouraged and mobilised his kinsmen to abandon nomadism. Later when he joined Ntare School, he doubled as president of the debating society and scripture union. These helped perfect his convictions and shaped him for leadership.

His political awareness and ideological orientation became more focused during the three years (1967 to 1970) he spent at the University of Dar es Salaam. The university provided a very conducive atmosphere for Pan-Africanism and anti-imperialism. While there, he became the president of the University Students’ African Revolutionary Front (USARF), a forum that provided him mentorship from President Julius Nyerere.

It is while at this university that he developed far-reaching Pan-Africanist and revolutionary ideas. Museveni was instrumental in forming FRONASA (Front for National Salvation), which was the core of Ugandan fighting groups that, together with the Tanzanian People’s Defence Forces, ousted Idi Amin’s regime in April 1979.

On 29th January 1986, President Museveni became President of the Republic of Uganda after leading a protracted five-year liberation struggle that started out with only 27 guns. This was a people’s resistance, with no external base, relying entirely on popular community support, to save their country from total collapse and abuse of the dignity of human life. The only other liberation struggle to achieve so much with so little was the Cuban Revolution of 1953 to 1958.
Upon coming to power, he laid a firm foundation for reconciliation and national harmony, proving that people of differing cultural, religious and political allegiances can form a broad-based government.

Since 1986, the NRM, under the leadership of President Museveni has demonstrated the revolutionary effect that good leadership can have on a country. He inherited a country and an economy in ruins. The colonial enclave economy had almost disappeared by the time the NRM took power. Under Museveni’s leadership, the NRM initiated socio-economic policies designed to combat key challenges, including insecurity of person and property, extra-judicial killings, and rampant shortages of essential commodities.

Uganda, under President Museveni’s leadership, has registered tremendous and steady progress in all sectors of the economy. The size of the economy has grown close to tenfold since 1986. The GDP per capita has quadrupled. Ugandans today live healthier and longer lives. They are better educated. Children no longer die of preventable diseases, and are attending school free of charge. Infrastructure has tremendously improved. The total tarmacked road network has increased five-fold. Electricity shortages are no more, instead the country is struggling to consume the surplus power generated. Tele-communication has improved, almost every adult has a phone.

Under President Museveni’s leadership, Uganda has significantly contributed to regional peace, security and stability. For instance, Uganda supported the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa by hosting ANC fighters and training them for the liberation of South Africa against apartheid. Uganda also contributed to the restoration of peace in Rwanda, resettlement of refugees who had spread across East Africa and ending the genocide.

President Museveni has successfully ensured security, democracy and delivery of social services for the betterment of Ugandans. It is no accident, therefore, that Uganda is today enjoying peace from corner to corner of the country and with its neighbours. The country is now seen as a beacon of peace. President Museveni is happily married to Janet Kataha Museveni, with children and bazzukulu (grandchildren).