Gerald Bareebe
Kampala
Twenty three years after coming to power, President Museveni says he is strong enough to carry on for another 10 years. Mr Museveni, for whom Parliament removed the two-term limit on the presidency out of the Constitution to allow him stand again in the 2006 election, said he has no plans of further amending the Constitution to lift the age-limit of 75 years.
Mr Museveni, who turns 65 in September, was asked during a Sunday night television talk show whether he would keep running for President until he is 75 years old. No, but at 75 the constitution does not allow you, said the President. Pressed further on whether he will campaign to remove the age limit just like he did for the term limits, Mr Museveni said: No; that one I will not allow.
President Museveni has been in power longer than all Ugandas former heads of state since Independence in 1962 put together. He shot his way to power in 1986 and stood for elections in 1996, 2001 and 2006 the last two were marred by widespread electoral malpractices.
While supporters say he has stabilised the country after years of political instability and presided over consistent economic growth, critics say his refusal to allow for a peaceful transition from one elected leader to another is a risk to the countrys long-term stability and development.
The ruling National Resistance Movement is already plotting to field Mr Museveni for the 2011 election and his comments suggest that he could offer himself for the job in 2016 by which point he would have been in charge of the country for three decades.
I will retire if there are no demands, Mr Museveni said. I am going to be 65 in September but I am still very strong. I would like to advise young people that if you look after yourself very well you can be strong for quite a long time. For us we dont look at this as power; we look at it as struggle.
He said it was up to the NRM to decide on whether to front him as its flag bearer in 2011 and 2016 elections.
Ms Salaam Musumba, the deputy president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said Mr Museveni should have retired long ago because he is now very unproductive and behaves like a shadow which keeps changing direction.
Kampala
Twenty three years after coming to power, President Museveni says he is strong enough to carry on for another 10 years. Mr Museveni, for whom Parliament removed the two-term limit on the presidency out of the Constitution to allow him stand again in the 2006 election, said he has no plans of further amending the Constitution to lift the age-limit of 75 years.
Mr Museveni, who turns 65 in September, was asked during a Sunday night television talk show whether he would keep running for President until he is 75 years old. No, but at 75 the constitution does not allow you, said the President. Pressed further on whether he will campaign to remove the age limit just like he did for the term limits, Mr Museveni said: No; that one I will not allow.
President Museveni has been in power longer than all Ugandas former heads of state since Independence in 1962 put together. He shot his way to power in 1986 and stood for elections in 1996, 2001 and 2006 the last two were marred by widespread electoral malpractices.
While supporters say he has stabilised the country after years of political instability and presided over consistent economic growth, critics say his refusal to allow for a peaceful transition from one elected leader to another is a risk to the countrys long-term stability and development.
The ruling National Resistance Movement is already plotting to field Mr Museveni for the 2011 election and his comments suggest that he could offer himself for the job in 2016 by which point he would have been in charge of the country for three decades.
I will retire if there are no demands, Mr Museveni said. I am going to be 65 in September but I am still very strong. I would like to advise young people that if you look after yourself very well you can be strong for quite a long time. For us we dont look at this as power; we look at it as struggle.
He said it was up to the NRM to decide on whether to front him as its flag bearer in 2011 and 2016 elections.
Ms Salaam Musumba, the deputy president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said Mr Museveni should have retired long ago because he is now very unproductive and behaves like a shadow which keeps changing direction.
