Yoweri Museveni

From ArticleWorld

Yower Museveni has been the president of Uganda since 1986. Museveni is praised by the West for bring economic stability and growth to the country, but he is criticized for involving Uganda in several humanitarian issues.

Biography

Museveni was born in 1944 in Nutngamo, Uganda. He attended a Kyamte elementary school and then Mbarara High School, where he became a born-again Christian, and Ntare School. In 1967, he graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with degrees in economics and political science. While attending college, Museveni became involved in Pan-African politics and help establish the University Students’ African Revolutionary Front. As part of his involvement, he attended guerrilla warfare training in Mozambique.

In 1970, Museveni worked for the government’s intelligence service under President Milton Oboto. However, in 1971 Idi Amin took power and Museveni and Oboto fled to Tanzania, where they formed the Front for National Salvation in 1973. Also in 1973, Museveni married Janet Kataha.

In 1978, Amin, who was a traitorous leader responsible for the torture and slaughter of between 300,000 and 500,000 Ugandans, ordered an invasion into Tanzania. Museveni and the Front for National Salvation quickly formed the Uganda National Liberation. The Presidential Commission called for a general election in 1980. Museveni ran with the Uganda Patriotic Movement and lost. All losing parties blamed widespread polling errors.

In 1981, Museveni’s Popular Resistance Army joined forces with the Uganda Freedom Fighters and established the National Resistance Army. NRA also formed a political party, the National Resistance Movement. By 1986, the NRM was unbeatable and took over the capital, making Museveni president.

Museveni has been credited with bring widespread economic stability and growth to his country. His leadership continues to also address the HIV/AIDS issue in Uganda, decrease government spending, and encourages African self-reliance. However, the northern part of the Uganda still succumbs to rampant rebellion activity. Museveni is also criticized for his role in the Democratic Republic of Congo Civil War and other African Great Lakes-are conflicts. These plights are considered humanitarian emergencies by organizations and governments all over the world.