Mr. Museveni was one of the leaders of the group that booted Idi Amin out of power in Uganda. He later became the undisputed boss of the country in 1986, which under his watch saw a stabilization of the social order, healthy economic growth, and a dramatic drop in disease, including HIV, among the population. It also saw a period of political stagnation, which has begun, these last 10 years, to be challenged. Uganda has begun to become involved in the warfare in neighboring Sudan, as well, with corruption charges being levelled at members of Museveni's family and administration, though he himself appears to be uncorrupted, a good and able man.

Uganda under Museveni's leadership has seen great improvements. Considering who his predecessor was, this is no surprise: a trained bear would be an improvement over Amin. But, as with all dictatorships, the boss's effectiveness begins to wane once the crisis is over, and it's time for political expression to take more advanced and inclusive forms. Once someone has that kind of power, though, it takes great discipline, faith and patriotism to give it up.

As I'm sure you recall, dictatorship as a temporary civil alternative limited by statute was formalized by the Romans under the Republic, who resorted to it in crisis more than once. They had fatal trouble with it when they granted (under duress) dictatorial powers to an ambitious genius. Julius Caesar never gave those powers back.