Uganda’s Museveni seeks seventh time period, pledges to battle corruption

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni sought nomination for a seventh time period on Saturday, bringing him nearer to finishing 5 many years in energy within the East African nation.

Museveni, 80, has refused calls for for his retirement, regardless of detractors warning that he has devolved into dictatorship with no opposition, together with inside his personal Nationwide Resistance Motion celebration.

He was greeted by a giant mob of admirers as he went to amass nomination papers from the celebration’s workplaces in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

He acknowledged in an handle to his supporters that if reelected, certainly one of his priorities shall be to battle authorities corruption.

“On this time I would like us actually to wipe out corruption,” he stated.

Museveni first took energy as head of a insurgent drive in 1986. He has since been elected six occasions, although latest elections have been marred by violence and allegations of vote rigging. His principal opponent within the final election was the favored entertainer referred to as Bobi Wine, who has additionally declared his candidacy within the polls set for January.

Wine, whose actual title is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has seen many associates jailed or go into hiding as safety forces cracked down on opposition supporters.

Museveni has dismissed Wine as “an agent of international pursuits” who can’t be trusted with energy. Wine has been arrested many occasions on numerous fees, however has by no means been convicted. He insists he’s working a nonviolent marketing campaign.

Many years in the past, Museveni himself had criticized African leaders who overstayed their welcome in workplace. In Uganda, lawmakers did the identical factor for him after they jettisoned the final constitutional impediment — age limits — for a doable life presidency. His son, military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has asserted his want to succeed his father, elevating fears of hereditary rule.

A protracted-time opposition chief, Kizza Besigye, has been jailed since November over alleged treason fees his legal professionals say are politically motivated. Besigye, a doctor who retired from Uganda’s navy on the rank of colonel, is a former president of the Discussion board for Democratic Change celebration, for a few years Uganda’s most distinguished opposition group.

Uganda has by no means seen a peaceable switch of energy since independence from Britain in 1962.