“Museveni has been speaking about democracy, but where is that democracy he speaks of if he can't tolerate those who criticise his government? What is happening in villages undermines the same democracy he talks about,” Ssenyonyi said.
The competition aims to encourage every Ugandan to confidently sing the National Anthem while promoting the use of Kiswahili and increasing appreciation of the East African Community anthem as Uganda advances regional integration.
Uganda will co-host the 2027 tournament with Kenya and Tanzania under the East African "Pamoja" bid, the first time AFCON will be staged in the region.
As of 2026, Uganda is home to nearly two million refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom have fled conflict in neighboring countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is not to say that other countries in the region do not offer refuge to those fleeing war as Kenya and Tanzania do so too.
Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the former President of Malawi and Special Envoy of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, was tasked with engaging key stakeholders on political freedoms, electoral reform, and accountability after post-election protests and violence.