Uganda's Museveni Begins Seventh Term as LGBTQ+ Rights Remain Under Threat
Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh presidential term in Uganda. His government is known for some of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Yoweri Museveni, aged 81, has been sworn in as Uganda's president again. This is his seventh term in office. He has now ruled Uganda for 40 years.
Museveni won elections in January 2026. Many people say the elections were not fair. Opposition groups and international observers reported serious problems.
For LGBTQ+ people, this news is very worrying. Uganda is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2023, Uganda passed a strict Anti-Homosexuality Act. This law made same-sex relations punishable by death in some cases.
Museveni signed that law himself. He has spoken publicly against LGBTQ+ rights many times. He has called homosexuality 'unnatural' and refused pressure from Western countries to change the law.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act caused a strong international reaction. The World Bank stopped some loans to Uganda. The United States cancelled certain aid programmes. But Museveni did not change his position.
Human rights organisations are deeply concerned about the next five years. Groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say LGBTQ+ Ugandans live in constant fear. Many have been arrested, attacked, or forced to leave their homes.
Some LGBTQ+ Ugandans have fled the country. They have sought asylum in Kenya, the United States, and European countries. But the journey is dangerous and uncertain.
Inside Uganda, activists continue to work quietly. They provide support and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people. But they do this at great personal risk.
With Museveni starting a new term, there is little hope for legal change soon. Experts say the political environment will likely become even more hostile. New laws targeting LGBTQ+ people and their allies may follow.
The international community faces a difficult choice. Should they engage with Uganda to push for change? Or should they apply more pressure through sanctions and aid cuts? So far, neither approach has worked well.
For LGBTQ+ Ugandans, the next five years under Museveni will be a continued struggle for safety, dignity, and basic human rights.