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Vol 50 No 8

Published 17th April 2009


Uganda

Museveni - from grand reformer to simply surviving

With his eyes on another five-year presidential term in 2011, President Yoweri Museveni has shaken up his cabinet, touted Uganda's future as an oil exporter and pressed for a military resolution to the conflict with the LRA. The only thing that could stop him from extending his 23 years of rule is infighting between the factions of the ruling National Resistance Movement. Museveni's long-term allies benefit from his grip on power, but a new generation in the ruling party wants changes to policies and leadership.

President Yoweri Museveni has two main power centres. Firstly, the National Resistance Movement which still enjoys popular support across Uganda, especially in the vote-rich rural areas. The NRM mobilises support during elections, then suffocates it to stop it from building structures that would withstand manipulation. After removing constitutional term limits to allow himself to run in 2006, Museveni, 65, is free to stand again in 2011 and 2016. Some NRM insiders speak of removing the age limit, now at 75.

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