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In recent weeks, social media has been flooded with videos of President Yoweri Museveni walking at a brisk pace during public appearances.
These clips have ignited a discussion on his health, especially his fitness levels at 80 years old.
One such video showed Museveni striding with impressive speed during a visit to Lwankonge village in Kiboga District, where he went to address a local land dispute.
The footage shows his security team and entourage, including notable officials like the Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba, and the Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, struggling to keep up with his swift steps.
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The contrast between the president’s pace and the out-of-breath ministers raised eyebrows and sparked debate across social media platforms.
Admiration and Disbelief
Some praised his health and stamina, with many expressing awe at his energy levels.
One TikTok user commented, “This man is not leaving any time soon,” while another remarked, “That speed shows another 20 years.”
Media personality Faridah Nkazibwe joked in Luganda, “Ono tunamwekulilamu Mulago!”
Overall, the public reaction was a mixture of admiration and disbelief from both Museveni’s supporters and critics, as well as curiosity about his health.
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Trying to explain the president’s impressive stamina requires a high level of knowledge of his personal lifestyle and health, which not many can claim.
However, from a physiological viewpoint, there is vast public information about his health, a lot from his own account, which when examined along with generic medical explanations and predictions, might offer a deeper insight into his stamina.
This exceptional capability is likely due to a combination of several interacting factors. Here's a detailed breakdown of the possibilities:
1. Genetics and Biological Predisposition
Favorable Genes are a key factor in an individual's long-term health. They are people who are genetically predisposed to longer lifespans and a slower rate of age-related decline.
Genes involved in DNA repair, antioxidant defense, inflammation regulation, and cardiovascular health could be particularly beneficial.
Additionally, such a person might possess a naturally more efficient cardiovascular system, allowing for better oxygen delivery to muscles.
This could include a higher VO2 max (maximum oxygen uptake capacity) than average for his age, potentially even rivaling that of younger individuals.
More so, a higher proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are more resistant to fatigue and better suited for endurance activities, could be a genetic advantage.
2. Lifelong Dedication to Physical Activity
If an individual has been physically active throughout his life, his body has adapted and maintained a higher baseline level of fitness.
This creates a huge reserve capacity compared to someone who became active later in life.
President Yoweri Museveni’s history from a peasant childhood through his youth years in political activism and armed struggle would align well with this possibility.
Variety of Training: Engaging in a mix of activities like fast walking, jogging, aerobics, and prolonged standing likely contributes to well-rounded fitness, building both cardiovascular endurance and muscular stamina.
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In January 2020, Museveni took part in an impressive 195km walk over six days, retracing the route his forces used in 1986 during the Ugandan bush war.
This journey started in Galamba, north of Kampala, and ended in Birembo.
The President, in his later years, has continued to challenge his body gradually, maintaining and even slightly improving his fitness levels.
Later that year, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he released a video of himself doing intense indoor exercises, including running barefoot in his office and performing 30 push-ups.
3. Rich diet
Good stamina at an old age requires a lifelong diet rich in nutrients for sustained energy and muscle recovery. Avoiding processed foods, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats is crucial.
When it comes to his diet, Museveni is extremely selective. He has openly shared the foods he avoids, including rice, pork, chicken, and fish.
In an interview with the BBC in 2020, he explained, “I eat some cassava because I don't eat your European food and your Asian foods. I eat our food, which is cassava, some bananas, millets and our vegetables.”
His daily meals typically consist of a minimal breakfast with cassava, bananas, or millet, followed by no lunch, and a light dinner consisting of two Irish potatoes and vegetables. The president also avoids sugar, citing its detrimental health effects.
4. No Smoking and Limited Alcohol Consumption
Avoiding these harmful substances preserves cardiovascular and respiratory health, directly impacting stamina.
President Museveni has often attributed his health to his lifestyle choices, including his decision never to drink alcohol or smoke.
In 2015, he remarked, “I have never in my life tasted alcohol. I am now 70 years old, but….my body is clean. I don’t smoke cigarettes. Unfortunately, you find someone busy burning their lungs…setting your own lungs alight.”
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5. Impeccable Hygiene:
Museveni’s hygiene practices are meticulous, bordering on mysophobia (an extreme fear of germs). He has often spoken about his preference for using his right hand for public greetings, keeping his left hand reserved for personal use.
This quirk has led to his famous declaration: “I donated my right hand to the public and kept my left to myself.”
Videos have recently emerged on social media of the president vigorously washing his hands with soap and bottles of mineral water after greeting people.
6. Mental and Psychological Factors
A positive outlook on aging and physical activity can contribute to greater adherence and enjoyment. President Museveni has famously dismissed critics of his performance on account of old age, saying, “Politics is not about biology; it’s about ideology”
7. Absence of Health Issues:
The absence of debilitating conditions like heart disease, arthritis, chronic respiratory illnesses, or neurological disorders is crucial for maintaining such high physical function, and the president has for a long time prided himself in the long spell of good health he has enjoyed.
Last month, during his Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) tour in Eastern Uganda, he boasted that he has never been admitted to a hospital since assuming the presidency.
“Have you ever heard that I was admitted to the hospital in my 38 years as President? Hospitals are like garages for broken vehicles,” he quipped.
8. Hormonal Factors:
Naturally Higher Testosterone Levels: While testosterone levels typically decline with age in men, some individuals may experience a slower or less significant drop, which can contribute to muscle mass and energy levels.
Also, growth hormone plays a role in muscle maintenance and energy. His body might still produce and utilize it relatively efficiently for his age.
It's important to note that President Museveni’s stamina is likely a combination of several of these factors rather than a single element.