President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh term in office, extending his 35-year rule over Uganda. The ceremony, held in Kampala, was marked by a lack of opposition presence and muted international fanfare. The United Kingdom, a key Commonwealth partner, issued a pointed statement urging Uganda to pursue ‘genuine democratic reforms.

’ This comes amid growing concerns over the shrinking political space in the country, with key opposition figures detained or sidelined during the January 2021 elections. The Commonwealth has also expressed disappointment, with Secretary-General Patricia Scotland calling for dialogue and rule of law. Museveni, 76, remains one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, and his administration has been criticised for human rights abuses and corruption.

However, his government emphasises stability and economic growth in a region plagued by insecurity. The UK’s call for reforms is part of a broader trend of Western nations reassessing ties with autocratic allies. For Museveni, the international pressure may be a minor irritant; domestically, he faces no immediate threat.

Yet the data on democratic backsliding is unequivocal. Since 2018, Uganda’s ranking on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index has slipped from 4.46 to 3.

94 (out of 10), dropping from a hybrid regime to an authoritarian one. This is a physical reality, not a political opinion. The transfer of power in 2026, if it happens, will be the first moment of genuine transition in four decades.

Until then, the urge for reforms will remain just that: an urge.