(MENAFN) Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, has signaled his intention to seek another term in the country’s upcoming general elections.

At 80 years old, Museveni remains one of the longest-serving leaders globally. His ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has dominated Uganda’s political scene for nearly four decades.

In a message shared on social media Saturday, Museveni stated that Uganda has passed through five distinct development phases since 1986. He added that the NRM’s current focus is to drive the national economy toward reaching a $500 billion GDP within the next five years.

He also addressed newly elected NRM district leaders, urging them to stay neutral and steer clear of corrupt practices. He emphasized the importance of supporting individuals “who truly understand” the party’s ideology and warned against backing candidates “driven by personal agendas instead of focusing on the national interest.”

Uganda, which gained independence in 1962, experienced political instability in the years that followed, including the notorious rule of Idi Amin. After Amin’s fall, President Apollo Milton Obote returned to power in 1981. Museveni accused Obote of election fraud and launched a guerrilla war, ultimately taking power in 1986.

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