Hoping to add to his almost 40 years in power, Yoweri Museveni is Uganda's leading candidate in the 2026 election. Besigye's prolonged detentions have drawn international attention to Uganda's human rights record. Human rights and press freedom in UgandaAdolf Mbaine, a professor at the Uganda-based Divine International University acknowledges progress on human rights since Museveni took office, but warns of recent setbacks. "That brings back memories of the past in terms of human rights violations. It is against the spirit of the 1995 constitution with regard to human rights protection, promotion and observance," he said.