Incumbent Museveni leads the pack of Uganda's presidential candidates, hoping to add to his almost 40 years in power. But despite economic growth, there has been increasing pressure on human rights and dissenters.

For millions of Ugandans under 40, Yoweri Museveni is the only president they have ever known. And that's unlikely to change soon, as he prepares for yet another campaign after the Ugandan electoral commission confirmed the final list of candidates for the upcoming presidential election next February.

Museveni, 81, first came to power in 1986 following an armed rebellion that deposed Milton Obote, and has become one of the world's longest-serving leaders.

His tenure has been marked by both praise and criticism. Supporters say he has brought stability and development, while critics say Uganda has increasingly experienced democratic backsliding, human rights violations, and entrenched corruption.

"Museveni has made a remarkable change in our country and most notably, real peace and stability," says Agnes Atim Apea, a social entrepreneur and politician.

She says this stability has spurred economic growth.

"That [stability] is really one of the areas the president has evidently invested in. It has triggered all the developmental changes that you see in the country, because without peace and stability, you can't do the roads, you can't do the electricity," she said.

Robert Onyango, who was born after Museveni took office, is looking forward to voting in the upcoming election. He sees the president's legacy in a positive light, telling DW: "We have grown up with this government. We would only talk about the positive side of what we have seen."

Uganda's economy has seen mixed growth under Museveni, with agriculture remaining a key pillar.

"We have seen diversification of the agriculture sector. We've seen other crops coming on board, no longer coffee only. Coffee itself has become commercial, and there's been a lot of investment," Apea said.

She is also optimistic about the gains made in other areas of Uganda's economy.

"Our exports, especially in the East African Community, we've seen the surplus, as well as in the tourism and the transport sectors," Apea said.

Uganda also has an estimated six billion barrels of oil reserves near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that once production begins, Uganda's growth could reach double digits.

However, like many African nations, Uganda still relies heavily on foreign aid. The World Bank recently resumed funding after a two-year suspension over Uganda's controversial anti-LGBTQ+ law.

Despite economic strides, corruption remains a major concern. Uganda reportedly loses nearly 10 trillion Ugandan shillings (about €2.4 billion) annually to graft, according to the Uganda's Inspector General of Government.

Sarah Bireete, the executive director of the Ugandan watchdog Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) tells DW there are "higher levels of corruption within the government."

"When we collect 32 trillion [shillings] and about 10 trillion [shillings] is lost through corruption. It shows you the state of democracy in Uganda," she says.

Uganda ranks 126 out of 140 countries on the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index, scoring poorly on rights protection, institutional independence, and accountability.

Bireete also criticized Uganda's electoral process.

"Our elections have been deteriorating one after the other, where the abuse of money and security agencies dominate the political scene," Bireete said.

She does not blame Museveni entirely for this but rather the entire political class.

Bireete added that rising electoral violence discourages voter participation, often benefiting the incumbent.

"Recent data shows we have an increase of electoral violence since 2001, and each election gets worse than the previous one," she said.

Museveni's critics have often faced harassment, arrests, and even abductions. Prominent opposition figures like Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine have been repeatedly detained and prosecuted for challenging the government.

Besigye's prolonged detentions have drawn international attention to Uganda's human rights record.

Bobi Wine, a vocal critic and former presidential candidate, told DW: "It's unfortunate that in Uganda the impunity is on the rise, the lawlessness is on the rise. Neither the police, courts of law, or parliament can curb or even call it to account."

Voter Onyango acknowledges Museveni has not been tolerant of dissent, but argues this is justified: "Under Museveni, we are seeing not the maximum political freedom in the country, but of course being an incumbent, you have to at least put limitations on how other political parties will play their games in line with opposing his government."

Politician Bobi Wine believes international pressure is key for a change.

"We call upon the international community, upon which this regime survives owing to the donor funding, to dissociate itself," he said.

Professor Adolph Mbaine from Uganda-based Divine International University acknowledges progress on human rights since Museveni took office but warns of recent setbacks.

"I think as a country we have made strides towards human rights observance and protection, especially after President Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1986," Mbaine said.

He is worried by what he calls state agents abusing their powers to suppress citizens' rights and freedoms.

"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," Mbaine said.

Media freedom has also come under scrutiny. Uganda ranks 143rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.

Robert Ssempala, from the Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda, told DW: "Most journalists targeted now, and victimized all the time, are those that cover the opposition and independent media houses."

Museveni shows no signs of stepping down. His grip on power remains firm, and next year's election will be a litmus test for whether Ugandans truly desire change -- or whether the status quo will persist.

Uganda: Museveni eyes more years in the presidency