President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for 34 years,has been nominated for a record 6th term in the forthcoming Uganda elections.
“I Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon being the returning officer for the nomination Presidential candidates, hereby declare that Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa Kaguta, a duly nominated candidate, in respect of the Presidential elections 2021,” he said.
Accompanied by his wife and ten other supporters, Museveni arrived with his full presidential motorcade and escorts. The venue, social media and TV stations blared his songs, with Museveni’s campaign slogan, “secure your future.”
In this song, President Yoweri Museveni is praised for his management of affairs, including the handling of the opposition, saying he is not as bad as late presidents Idi Amin Dada and Milton Obote.
While accepting his nomination, Museveni thanked his nominators and went on to collect signatures.
”I have been duly nominated by the Independent Electoral Commission as a candidate for the 2021 presidential election. I thank my nominators, the two young people, Nassur Gaddafi and Hellen Seku,” he said.
He emphasized the need to follow the coronavirus containment rules and also urged all Ugandans to maintain peace.
Securing a new term would potentially extend the 76-year-old former rebel fighter’s rule to four decades.
Critics complain Museveni has been using anti-coronavirus measures like bans on public gatherings to secure an advantage and stymie preparations by opponents.
Other rights groups have long accused him of deploying security forces to intimidate opponents while using public finances to reward loyalists and expand his support.
In power since 1986, Museveni’s tenure is only surpassed in Africa by Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled since 1979 and Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has ruled since 1982.
