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Uganda: I Won't Groom Heir Says Museveni
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New Vision (Kampala)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Barbara Among
Kampala
GROOMIING a successor is undemocratic and is tantamount to hijacking the democratic process of the National Resistance Movement party, according to President Yoweri Museveni.
In spite of the insistent demand by some supporters that he identifies and prepares a member of his party to succeed him, Museveni said he would instead build a process within the party that would lead to the election of his successor.
"I would rather groom a process that would facilitate the election of a successor."
The Constitution provides for unlimited presidential terms.
The President was speaking during a dinner he hosted on Sunday at State House Entebbe in honour of 12 editors from the US media who are visiting the country.
The editors said they came to assess the activities of the government and the private sector in order to report accurately on Uganda and Africa.
Asked if he would run for a fourth term, Museveni said the ruling NRM party would decide on the next presidential candidate depending on the tasks ahead.
"Leadership is a national sacrifice that the party will sit and determine what to do, considering the challenges facing the country and the party and who should be fronted to lead," Museveni said.
During his recent tour of the country, Movement cadres urged the President to stand.
Although there is no consensus whether Museveni should stand, Kabula MP James Kakooza said he had collected at least 80 signatures from other MPs to ask Museveni to stand.
Those calling for a successor argue that the move would prevent a possible internal wrangle that has dogged many political parties.
Commenting on the discovery of oil in western Uganda, Museveni said the proceeds would be used for investment in energy, education and health.
"The money from oil will be used to build human resource and infrastructural capacity and these can be used for the enrichment of the country."
Uganda, he said, would borrow the best practice used by other countries to manage the oil revenues.
On circumcision, Museveni said he would not promote male circumcision as a means to prevent HIV transmission unless scientific evidence on its effectiveness was available.
He called on the developed countries to invest in cleaning up the environment as a method of curbing environmental degradation.
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He also urged the developing world to diversify its energy sources.
Meanwhile, Museveni, accompanied by his wife Janet, yesterday left for Jerusalem for a three-day visit.
He is expected to attend an international conference called by Israeli president Shimon Peres.
The NRM cadres want Museveni to stand because that is the only way they can "win". He is their meal ticket. By unsurreptitiously - buying NRM so-called parliamentarians with $2,500 each - changing the constitutions to eliminate the presidential term Museveni is now guaranteed to rule for ever. It is essentially a life presidency, ala Idi Amin. These so-called parties are not really political parties but cults. Once the cult figurehead goes so goes the "party". It happened with the other older established parties, namely UPC and DP. Once the charistimatic Obote passed away so did the UPC fortunes disappear... [Read Full Text]
Indeed, I agree with your observation that M7 is going no where ! He has manipulated every aspect of Uganda politics starting with deceipt and arrogance about his Rwandan origins. He came to power by the burrel of a gun and the gun has kept him there for last 20 years of his dictatorial rule despite numerous sham presidential elections. Today M7 owns Uganda through corruption and decipt. However, Like Idi Amin who made himself a life president M7's rule will be remembered as a man who came from Rwanda and deceived Ugandans that he is Ugandan by birth and... [Read Full Text]
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