Uganda’s Museveni takes steps to hold on to power

A statement from the office of President Yoweri Museveni has said that the Ugandan strongman will contest next year’s presidential elections. This seems to be an attempt to try to extend a presidency that started in 1986.  According to the statement, Museveni will also seek election as chairman of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party at its national conference in mid-September, the statement added.

The statement which also quoted Museveni asking a crowd in western Uganda to support him in both races, confirm widespread expectations in the east African country, which discovered commercial oil deposits in 2006, that he would stand. Yoweri Museveni is oneof the longest-serving presidents in Africa. He rose to the top of Ugandan politics when his then National Resistance Army (NRA) insurgents seized power from a short-lived military junta. The early stages the Museveni presidency drew wide praise from the west and effusive support from Ugandans for its respect for the civilian population, prudent and liberal economic management and commitment to the rule of law.

But support among the people, In the past decade, has begun to ebb and relations with the west have frayed on mounting accusations by the opposition and human rights observers that his leadership has turned despotic and corrupt. But some say Museveni expected to win the party leadership contest easily, will probably face off against Kizza Besigye, who is expected to be picked by a coalition of opposition parties, the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC). Besigye, who fought and lost elections against Museveni in 2001 and 2006, is the leader of the biggest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change, the FDC.

Victory for Museveni’s in both polls were marred by accusations of widespread rigging and violence. But it seems a unified opposition will give Museveni the most formidable challenge yet and is likely to send the poll into a run-off. If one goes by the trend of Museveni’s electoral fortunes, he got 76 percent in 1996, 69 percent in 2001 and 57 percent in 2006, there’s a real big chance that he will get anywhere between 45 and 50 percent in 2011.  According to analysts, that’s not enough because to win outright, the constitution requires you to have above 50 percent. Yoweri Museveni defended his years in power, denounced by critics as evidence of a life-presidency ambition, saying it was necessary to keep Uganda’s development on track. In a statement, the president said “Some elements of the historical team need to be kept in leadership so as to provide the much needed expertise and experience to propel the country ahead,”. Déjà vu seems to be dawning on the people of Uganda as they reflect on the tyrannical rule of Idi Amin Dada.

© 2010, Ahmed M Kamara. All rights reserved. – Reproduction of Newstime Africa content on any other news medium without the prior consent or approval of the publishers is forbidden, and in direct contravention of International copyright laws. Violators will be pursued and prosecuted.