A few months after the January 2026 General Elections, several unusual events began to occur, suggesting a radical shift for the 2026-2031 presidential term. Indeed, there are signs that President Yoweri Museveni is poised to solidify his legacy as the leader of Uganda for what will be 45 years by the time this new term concludes in 2031.
One of the main issues is what has been happening over the past few weeks. The government decided that a trade order must be enforced nationwide. This meant that all businesses outside gazetted areas would be demolished, and vendors operating on the roadside would be chased away. As a result, all illegal businesses are now being demolished across the country. Any protests from business owners are being ignored, unlike before.
All signs indicate we will use ruthless pragmatism over the next five years. Building a legacy, whether in politics, business, or history, often requires ruthless pragmatism, which is a cold, calculating focus on results. This approach demands the ability to make tough, sometimes harsh decisions to achieve long-term goals and preserve stability.
President Museveni, like the revolutionary former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, is demonstrating true pragmatism, which means abandoning failing policies regardless of their ideological origin and adopting "best practices" to build a lasting legacy.
Maintaining a legacy often requires sacrificing personal feelings, relationships, or comfort to safeguard the broader interests of the enterprise or dynasty. While sometimes associated with authoritarianism or controversial leaders, this approach is essential to ensuring a legacy endures rather than falls apart.
As President Yoweri Museveni begins his seventh term, the country’s progress in security, economic growth, and infrastructure development clearly marks a defining legacy of his leadership.
Uganda’s economy has seen significant growth over the past 40 years. From a modest GDP of $3.8 billion in 1986, it has expanded to about $69.3 billion today, driven by macroeconomic stability, liberalization policies, and strategic investments. Recent data from the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development shows ongoing progress. Merchandise exports increased to $1.45 billion (UGX 5.43 trillion) in January 2026, up from $1.395 billion (UGX 5.22 trillion) in December 2025.
This growth has been driven by strong performance in key sectors such as gold, coffee, electricity, and maize, resulting in a trade surplus for Uganda. The upward trend indicates increasing competitiveness and diversification of the country’s export base.
The revolution in infrastructure and development has been key to Uganda’s transformation story. However, a major milestone in regional infrastructure was recently reached with the groundbreaking of the Kisumu–Malaba, Malaba–Kampala Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Extension (Phase II). This event was jointly presided over by President Museveni and President William Ruto in Kisumu.
The SGR project aims to revolutionize regional trade by improving connectivity to the Port of Mombasa, East Africa’s main trade hub. By cutting cargo transit times along the Northern Corridor, the railway will reduce business costs, boost efficiency, and increase trade volumes across Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The initiative reflects a broader strategy to optimize transportation systems by using rail for heavy cargo, pipelines for oil, and roads for passengers and light goods, while addressing key cost factors, including transportation, energy, and financing.
Oil and gas are a new economic frontier. Uganda is on the verge of a historic milestone in its oil and gas sector, with critical infrastructure in place and the pipeline project underway. The country is on track to achieve first oil in 2026.
This critical resource, which President Yoweri Museveni has carefully managed for over 30 years, is vital because he sought to avoid exploitation by the oil giants involved in the upstream industry. Oil revenues are expected to significantly transform Uganda’s economy. President Museveni has stated that proceeds from the sector will be strategically invested in defense, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, which are essential pillars of sustainable development.
The oil and gas industry is also expected to boost industrialization, generate jobs, and strengthen Uganda’s standing in the global energy market. President Museveni’s 40-year legacy is deeply rooted in maintaining peace, fostering steady economic growth, and investing in proactive infrastructure. Though challenges remain, the progress made over the past four decades highlights a consistent vision of stability, self-reliance, and socio-economic development.
As Uganda prepares for its next five years of development, fueled by oil revenues, regional integration, and a young population, the foundations laid over the years continue to shape the country’s path to prosperity.
From a nation once troubled by conflict and economic instability to one on the verge of resource-driven growth, the journey has been remarkable. The coming years will reveal if this progress leads to inclusive prosperity and sustainable development, securing his legacy as one of Africa’s most influential leaders.
The writer works with the Uganda Media Centre