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Africa Subsaharan
Uganda: President openly hints on seeking fourth term in 2011
2008-07-08
(SomaliNet) In what would give him a fourth consecutive term as elected president, Ugandan incumbent Yoweri Museveni Kaguta has confirmed that he will contest in the 2011 presidential race.

The Ugandan leader however said this would take place with a trademark caveat -- that his candidature is the collective decision of the NRM delegates.
They'll have to ask nice ...
Mr Museveni finally broke his silence on whether or not he would seek another term in office at a late night meeting on Saturday held with legislators who hail from Busoga region. The President had convened the impromptu meeting at State House Entebbe to discuss the state of affairs in eastern Uganda. A source who attended the meeting told Daily Monitor that the President emphasized however that he would divulge more details about his 'availability' to run for office, when 'the right time comes.'

"If the NRM delegates ask me to stand, then I will assist you but if they have another option, I will go back and look after my cattle," Mr Museveni, a famed rancher, reportedly told the MPs after Bugabula North MP Gerald Menhya sounded him out on the subject.

The MP, according to a source, reportedly asked Mr Museveni to make his position clear before the legislators, regarding his future plans. "Mr President, are you standing again? Are you coming back or not?" Mr Menhya asked. The candid question drew a staid response from the President, who reportedly said it wasn't his duty to say 'yes or no', added the source.

"But we shall cross the waters when we get there," Mr Museveni is reported to have said and added, "I cannot swim where there is no water," telling the legislators that the decision on whether or not he should run again, hinges with the ruling party's national delegates conference.

The President's bold stand comes at a time when public debate is drenched in tales of succession battles within the NRM, questions about whether he is intent on extending his stay in power by running again, and whether the time is ripe for him to finally quit after a quarter of a century in power.
Of course he's going to 'run' again, and win. What's he going to do, retire to the ranch?
Posted by:Steve White

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