Nigeria Content Online

Ugandan President
Yoweri Museveni will contest next year’s presidential poll, trying to
extend a presidency that started in 1986, a statement from his office
said on Sunday.

He will also seek
election as chairman of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party at
its national conference in mid-September, the statement added.

It quoted Museveni
as asking a crowd in western Uganda to support him in both races,
confirming widespread expectations in the east African country, which
discovered commercial oil deposits in 2006, that he would stand.

“People with
disabilities are embracing my candidature for chairman and Presidential
flag bearer for NRM, I put in my nomination forms, so I can now ask for
your support,” he said.

One of the
longest-serving presidents in Africa, Museveni 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 years of
his 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.

In the past decade,
support among the people 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.

Run-off

Political analysts
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 (FDC).

Museveni’s victories in both polls were marred by accusations of widespread rigging and violence.

A unified
opposition, analysts say, will give Museveni the most formidable
challenge yet and is likely to send the poll into a run-off.

“Going 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,” said political analyst
Bernard Tabaire.

“That’s not enough
because to win outright, the constitution requires you to have above 50
percent.” 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.

“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,” he
said in the statement.