A prominent Kagadi leader has been accused of illegal electioneering.
Barely a year since general elections were held in Uganda on 18 February 2016 to elect the President and Parliament, Kagadi District LCV chair person Stephen Mfashingabo asked locals in the district to prepare to campaign for incumbent President Yoweri Museveni as he is contest again in the coming 2021 presidential elections.
And Museveni, who Is running in his sixth presidential election, came to power in 1986 after waging a 10-year guerrilla war.
While Mr Mfashingabo was presiding over a Legal Aid Clinic meeting where he swore to fight for and help President Museveni extended his 30-year rule on to two decades.
The chairman said: “I will be also performing, not only performing but soliciting for more votes in 2021. National Resistance Movement will be working, Museveni will come, if you want it or not.”
Kagadi and Kakumiro districts were this year curved out of Kibaale and the local government has already posted chief administrative officers and other staff to kick start the operations.
There has been a raging debate sparked by NRM supporters to lift the presidential age limit to allow President Museveni rule for as long as he wants. According to the Constitution, one is not eligible to contest for presidency if they are above 75 years.
The proposal to lift age limits if backed by Parliament means that President Museveni, who is 72, will not be eligible to stand for presidency in 2021 because he will be past the constitutional age limit.
Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, won 60.8% of the vote in presidential elections, while the main opposition candidate, Kizza Besigye, secured 35.4%, according to the country’s electoral commission.
Museveni’s ruling NRM party hailed the veteran leader’s victory as proof that “opponents failed to offer any alternative apart from empty promises”. The NRM also urged “all candidates to respect the will of the people and the authority of the electoral commission and accept the result. We ask all Ugandans to remain calm and peaceful and not to engage in any public disruptions.”
Although Museveni brought calm and stability to Uganda after decades of chaos at the hands of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, many opposition voters accuse the former guerrilla fighter of becoming increasingly autocratic and wanting to rule for life.
By Patson Baraire
