Uganda's electoral commission on Tuesday gave January 15 as the date for the country's general election, at which President Yoweri Museveni will seek to extend his rule to nearly half a century.

Now Africa's fourth-longest-ruling leader, Museveni's government has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office since 1986.

As in the 2021 election, Museveni's main rival is expected to be 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who has parlayed his singing stardom to amass a large support base among young voters.

In the 2021 election, Wine secured 35% of the vote, while Museveni, with 58%, posted his worst-ever result, establishing Wine as the president’s most potent challenger in decades.

Repeated rivalry

Wine alleged his victory was stolen through, but the electoral agency denied the allegations.

Six other candidates are contesting the upcoming presidential race, and voters will also elect members of parliament.

Incumbent President Museveni, 82, has been credited with stabilising Uganda, promoting economic growth, and combating HIV/AIDS.

Museveni's government hopes the start of crude oil exports next year from fields operated will help propel economic growth into double digits.

Uganda is a significant geopolitical player in East Africa and has troops deployed in Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea as part of peacekeeping, anti-insurgency, or military cooperation missions.

The East African nation has the second-youngest population in the world, with more than three-quarters of its people below the age of 35, according to the UN children’s agency.