Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni: "Europeans suffer from arrogance"

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President Museveni: "People don't know what they're talking about"

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John Muchucha / AP

Yoweri Museveni resides in a palace on Lake Victoria in Entebbe, far from the noise and chaos of the capital Kampala.

Soldiers with rifles at the ready stand guard at the entrance.

Museveni himself seems relaxed when he receives SPIEGEL for an interview.

He's in a crisis since he narrowly won the January election against his challenger, pop star Bobi Wine.

But there is no sign of nervousness.

Museveni has ruled Uganda for three and a half decades, during which time he increasingly developed into an autocrat.

The elections in January were overshadowed by violence and allegations of fraud.

SPIEGEL:

Mr. President, you were considered a freedom fighter and reformer when you took office 35 years ago.

Today many Ugandans see you as an autocrat.

How could this happen?

Yoweri Museveni:

I haven't just been in politics for 35 years, but for 60 years.

I was active in the student movement, in the resistance, now I'm in the government.

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