Leaders Must Not Impose Themselves on the People; Opposition Behaves Like Idi Amin – Museveni

Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has said that leaders must never impose themselves on the people, arguing that former dictator Idi Amin ruled Uganda without the consent of citizens.

Museveni made the remarks on Monday while addressing mourners at the commemoration of former Archbishop St Janani Luwum in Mucwini, Kitgum District.

He stressed that leadership is built on persuasion rather than intimidation, noting that both religious teachings and political strategy emphasize winning people over through service.

“The first mistake of Amin was to impose himself on us. Who was Idi Amin to impose himself on us? Leaders should not impose themselves on the people. Both the Bible and political strategy guide that persuading people is better than imposing yourself on them,” Museveni said.

The President’s comments come just weeks after he was declared winner of the January 15, 2026 presidential election, securing 71.6% of the vote, while his closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu (Bobi Wine), garnered 24.7%.

As in the 2021 polls, Bobi Wine rejected the election outcome, claiming it was rigged in favour of Museveni. Since 2021, the opposition leader has repeatedly accused Museveni—who came to power after the 1981–1986 bush war—of imposing himself on Ugandans.

Kyagulanyi has also claimed that Museveni lacks popular support and has on several occasions declared himself the rightful winner of the election. He is currently in hiding, with security forces reportedly surrounding his residence following the polls.

Veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, who is currently in detention, has previously made similar claims, insisting that his presidential bids were rigged in Museveni’s favour.

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Museveni has consistently dismissed allegations of election fraud, maintaining that his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ended electoral malpractice.

Quoting the Bible, Museveni said leadership should be demonstrated through visible good deeds.

“In the Bible it says, let your light shine before men that they see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Influence people, persuade people by doing good things which they see and appreciate,” he said.

The President accused opposition leaders of using intimidation rather than persuasion, equating such conduct to the tactics used by Idi Amin.

“All these leaders, even now, who try to manipulate and intimidate people, are really behaving like Amin,” Museveni said.

Citing northern Uganda as an example, Museveni noted that the region had previously voted overwhelmingly against the NRM, at times giving the party as little as 12% of the vote. However, he said the government continued to invest in infrastructure and social services regardless of electoral support.

“We brought electricity from Lira up to here. We built schools, health centres, water systems and roads,” he said, adding that over time, voters in northern Uganda began to support the NRM.

“This was through persuasion, not imposition,” he said.

Museveni also accused Idi Amin of killing innocent political opponents, describing the assassination of Archbishop Janani Luwum as an act of cowardice.

He claimed that during the NRA bush war, he restrained his fighters from assassinating former army chief Oyite Ojok, insisting that combat should only occur on the battlefield.