A recent video of President Yoweri Museveni striding briskly through Lwankonge village in Kiboga District has stirred widespread discussion online—not about politics, but his unexpected vitality at the age of 80.
In the clip, the President is seen walking with remarkable speed, while members of his security detail and entourage, including Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba and Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, visibly struggle to keep pace. The scene has ignited a wave of reactions on social media, with some expressing disbelief and others admiration.
“This man is not leaving any time soon,” one TikTok user commented. Another added, “That speed shows another 20 years.” Media personality Faridah Nakazibwe joined the chorus, joking in Luganda, “Ono tunamwekulilamu Mulago!” (loosely translated: “This one will outlast us all!”).
While supporters hail the President’s stamina as proof of resilience and longevity, critics and skeptics alike are left asking—how does he do it?
A Look Behind the Stamina: What Keeps Museveni Going?
Museveni’s ability to maintain such a physically active lifestyle at his age is likely due to a unique combination of personal discipline, lifestyle choices, and natural biological advantages. Here’s a closer look at the key factors that could be contributing to his impressive endurance:
1. Genetics and Biological Makeup
Some people are simply built differently. Genetic predisposition plays a critical role in aging. Museveni may be benefiting from favorable genes that promote cardiovascular health, cellular repair, and resistance to age-related decline. Traits like a high VO2 max (oxygen utilization capacity) and a greater proportion of fatigue-resistant slow-twitch muscle fibers could give him an edge.
2. A Life of Physical Activity
From his youthful days in political activism and the 1986 bush war to regular public walking exercises, Museveni has maintained an active lifestyle. In 2020, at 75, he completed a 195km trek over six days, retracing a historic military route. That same year, he surprised the public with a video of himself doing 30 push-ups and jogging barefoot in his office.
Such lifelong commitment to fitness builds a physiological reserve, allowing older individuals to retain a high level of function.
3. A Strict, Local Diet
Museveni’s diet is anything but typical for a modern leader. He avoids what he calls “foreign foods” such as rice, chicken, pork, and fish. Instead, his meals are simple and local—cassava, millet, bananas, and vegetables. He’s said to skip lunch entirely, preferring light morning and evening meals, and he actively avoids sugar.
“I eat our food… I don’t eat your European food and your Asian foods,” he told the BBC in a 2020 interview.
4. No Smoking, No Alcohol
The President has never smoked or drunk alcohol, which undoubtedly contributes to his cardiovascular and respiratory health.
“I have never in my life tasted alcohol,” he once stated. “I am now 70 years old, but my body is clean.”
5. Meticulous Hygiene Habits
Museveni is famously germ-conscious. He often reminds the public that he greets with his right hand and reserves his left for personal use. In public appearances, he’s frequently seen washing his hands vigorously with bottled water and soap. Whether quirky or calculated, his hygiene habits likely contribute to his overall health.
6. Mental Strength and Outlook
Museveni’s psychological resilience could also play a part. He has repeatedly brushed off age-related criticism with ideological defiance.
“Politics is not about biology; it’s about ideology,” he has said.
This positive, mission-driven mindset may play a role in keeping him physically and mentally sharp.
7. A Clean Bill of Health—By His Own Account
Remarkably, Museveni claims to have never been hospitalized in his 38 years as President.
“Have you ever heard that I was admitted to the hospital? Hospitals are like garages for broken vehicles,” he quipped during a recent Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) tour in Eastern Uganda.
8. Hormonal Resilience
Though testosterone and growth hormone levels typically drop with age, some individuals experience a much slower decline. These hormones are crucial for maintaining energy, muscle mass, and endurance. Museveni may simply be biologically wired to age more slowly than most.
The Bigger Picture
While much of the public discussion has focused on Museveni’s age-defying walk, what stands out more is what it symbolizes: discipline, longevity, and control. Whether admired or critiqued, the President’s physical condition is a reflection of a broader philosophy—a lifestyle rooted in self-control, consistency, and perhaps a bit of political theatre.
At 80, most leaders slow down. Museveni, it seems, is only picking up pace.
