Rwakitura
Those seeking to succeed Mr Museveni will have to show what they have done for the National Resistance Movement—and the candidate with most contribution will get the mantle, the President has said.
In an exclusive interview at his country home in Rwakitura on January 1, Mr Museveni declined to comment on whether his current bid for a fourth term in office would be his last, a revelation that most likely is not music to the ears of those eyeing his job.
Mr Museveni, who was off the campaign trail on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, looked fresh and relaxed inspite of the many days of vote-hunting. He opted to stay at his country home with his grandchildren.
Mr Museveni, who was off the campaign trail on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, looked fresh and relaxed inspite of the many days of vote-hunting. He opted to stay at his country home with his grandchildren.
In power since 1986, President Museveni will chalk up 30 years in office in 2016 if he wins next month’s presidential election.
“The answer is, we shall cross the bridge when we get there,” said Mr Museveni, when asked to comment whether he would step down come the 2016 call for other candidates.
“The answer is, we shall cross the bridge when we get there,” said Mr Museveni, when asked to comment whether he would step down come the 2016 call for other candidates.
If elected for another term, Mr Museveni will be 70 years old in 2016 and still eligible to run for fifth term in office.
Asked about the candidates who would succeed him if he was to leave the mantle, Mr Museveni said: “In NRM we don’t think about leadership historically, we think about contribution.
Asked about the candidates who would succeed him if he was to leave the mantle, Mr Museveni said: “In NRM we don’t think about leadership historically, we think about contribution.
For us leadership comes from work, it doesn’t come from favouritism saying you: ‘You are the one I am grooming’; no that is not NRM. How did our leadership come? It came through fighting. So if you have got a political force which puts work before positions, then you will be able to understand the NRM.”
He added: “We are working, people are working, old and new members are working and out of these we will see who is leading [in putting out the fire]. Because if you do it in any other way you are sort of distorting the process,” Mr Museveni said.
Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and Mr Mbabazi, who doubles as the Security Minister, are understood to habour the interest of succeeding Mr Museveni.
The question about who will succeed Mr Museveni is one quietly discussed in the NRM. But it is in 2001 that the subject found most prominence after Mr Museveni’s former close ally and personal physician Dr Kizza Besigye broke ranks within the establishment to run against the NRM leader, prompting NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi to issue the famous remark suggesting that the FDC leader “had jumped the succession queue.”
Author: Alex B. Atuhaire
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