When former guerrilla commander Yoweri Museveni became president of Uganda in 1986 following several years of war, he told his new coalition partners that he would remain president for just four years. His National Resistance Movement established a “no-party” democracy, and the transition to peaceful government began. However, at the end of those four years more time was needed for the smooth transition, so the interim parliament passed a bill to extend the arrangements for a further five years.
At the end of the five years, the 1995 Constitution came into force. Elections were held the following year, with Museveni standing for election as president and winning. In 2001 further elections were held, and Museveni was re-elected after vigorously and not always peacefully contested campaigning. He announced that this term of presidency would be his last, as required by the Constitution.
However, as 2006 approached, Museveni changed his mind and decided to stand again. The Constitution was amended to allow for more than two consecutive terms, and after further contested elections in February 2006 he was elected president for a third term. In February 2011 he stood again, winning a fourth term after hotly disputed election results. One day his reign will end, but at present there are no signs of him stepping down before seeking a fifth term in 2016.