Yoweri Museveni

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born 1941) has been president of Uganda since his National Resistance Army was victorious in January 1986 following a five-year guerrilla war against the regimes of President Milton Obote and then of Generals Bazilio Olara Okello and Tito Okello. Museveni has won praise among Western governments for privatising state enterprises, cutting government spending and urging African self-reliance, but has also come in for critiscism over Uganda's involvement in conflicts in neighbouring Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Under Museveni, Uganda has greatly reduced the HIV infection rate and the number of deaths from AIDS.

Museveni has failed to end the conflict in Northern Uganda, where at least 500,000 people are believed to have lost their lives so far. The northern districts of Gulu, Pader and Kitgum have seen an increase in the number of people driven out of their homes into refugee camps, the number currently stands at 800,000 people.

Under Museveni, Uganda is governed under the movement system. All political activities are banned and although to some degree people are allowed to air their opinions, any public gathering whose purpose is political is considered treason. Anyone standing for office must do so as an individual without any supportive system behind them.