Veteran cartoonist and columnist Jim Spire Ssentongo has weighed in on President Yoweri Museveni’s recent re-election for a seventh term, raising concerns over the long-serving leader’s advancing age and its impact on governance.
In a reflection shared through his column, Ssentongo likened the situation to an ageing father running a household alone.
“The circumstances around Museveni’s advancing age in a presidentialist state are characteristic of what happens in a household of an ageing father that had organised the running of the home around himself,” he wrote.
He noted that when power is not delegated, essential functions either stall, or those close to the leader begin maneuvering to exploit perceived vulnerabilities.
Ssentongo argued that Museveni is now, to a considerable extent, “trapped.” With his security and authority reliant on loyalists and family members, the president faces competing narratives designed to sway decisions.
The columnist described this dynamic as “okubaza mzee” — a process of duping the elder — where conflicting advice can result in public contradictions and confusion.
The commentator emphasized that while Museveni’s body and faculties may show signs of strain, he remains determined to maintain the appearance of full control.
“Yet still, he doesn’t want ‘outsiders’ to know that he is losing grip of his family. He still has to put up a public façade of being in charge, even when the body obviously shows otherwise,” Ssentongo wrote.
Ssentongo’s reflection comes amid widespread debate on whether Uganda’s leadership model can accommodate generational change without destabilising governance and political continuity.