Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa’s oldest and longest-serving presidents is set to run for the Ugandan presidency after his party’s endorsement over the weekend.
Museveni, 80, has been in power since his armed rebellion captured state house in 1986, and won several presidential elections beginning in 1996.
During Saturday’s party conference he was given the nod to run for the presidency again by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Museveni while giving his regime credit for bringing political stability to Uganda said he was the right candidate for the country’s ”leap” to the next level of development which is to become a middle income nation.
Under Museveni, the Ugandan constitution was amended twice to remove age and term limits which made it possible to run again.
Museveni is among an exclusive club of aged African presidents who have not showed any sign of relinquishing power. The others are 83-year-old Teodoro Obiang Nguema president of of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, 92-year-old Paul Biya of Cameroon since 1982 and Alassane Ouattara who in power since 2010 is 82 years old. The other is Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also 82.
Museveni’s likely opponent in next January’s polls, is Robert Kyagulanyi known by his music stage name Bobi Wine, who lost to the incumbent last term.
His government has been under strong criticism from both within and outside Uganda over the continuing detention of his former personal physician and presidential challenger, Kizza Besigye over treason allegations.
Besigye, has been detained since November.