afrol News, 22 July - Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni looks set to extend his rule to 30 years by winning a fourth term in 2011, in spite of concerns about democracy under one of Africa's longest serving rulers.

Reports that the 64-year-old former rebel will stand again has found favour with investors hungry for opportunities in emerging markets, but confounded opponents who have criticised his increasingly autocratic leadership style.

Mr Museveni has as yet not commented on his plans after his current five years in office. Opposition has accused him of turning into just another kind of power hungry "Big Man" African leader he lambasted as a fresh-faced former rebel in 1980s.

Criticism of him peaked in late 2005 after parliament scrapped term limits that would have stopped him from running again following year, and his main challenger was charged with rape, treason and terrorism in run-up to ballot.

Apprehension last Friday of three officials from central Uganda's traditional Buganda kingdom on charges of promoting war, sectarianism and terrorism brought back some of those memories.

Following a spell of rumours and leaks, country's vice-president, Gilbert Bukenya, has confirmed last week that the president would be ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's candidate in 2011 and party's candidate in next polls.

Mr Bukenya reportedly requested party members to stay with president. "Mr Museveni is still strong. So, why should we let him go? Let us support him," he was quoted as saying.

Vice-president's remarks come shortly after some party members reportedly adviced the leader to relinquish power.

Mr Bukenya is NRM vice-chairman for central region and also party chairperson for Wakiso District.

In an apparent reference to rumours that he was interested in country's highest position, he said, "I cannot compete with Museveni. How can I turn against my mentor? I ask all you NRM supporters in Wakiso that we should stay with President Museveni."

Vice-president is also said to have asked Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Mutebi, to support Mr Museveni.

He also talked about conflicts within NRM, saying they could undermine party's strength if not addressed. "It is true that divisions within our party, especially here in Wakiso, will reduce our power and will affect NRM. We need to stop fighting each other and work together to consolidate our power," vice president said.

He reportedly blamed NRM's loss of parliamentary seats in Wakiso on infighting among party's supporters.

He is said to have defended proposed Land Bill, criticised as divisive, arguing it would protect tenants as well as landowners.

Head of Africa Equities research at emerging markets broker Exotix, Christopher Hartland-Peel, told media also he favours Mr Museveni's staying in power.

"Inflation is under control, budgetary deficit is moderate, and exchange rate looks favourable. As he's done a good job ... in aggregate, there's no reason why he shouldn't stay," Mr Hartland-Peel reportedly said.

However, former health ministers Jim Muhwezi and Mike Mukula and former internal security chief Brigadier Henry Tumukunde are said to be openly challenging aging Ugandan leader's administrative prowess. The three are being investigated over misuse of public funds.

Museveni's challenger at February 2006 election was Kizza Besigye, who was once a close ally and his personal doctor during bush war. Mr Besigye won 37 percent of vote and then unsuccessfully challenged result in court.

But since then, his opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has become increasingly divided, making few inroads against ruling NRM.

Some Ugandans believe Mr Museveni is grooming his son Muhoozi, a media-shy army major, trained at Britain's Sandhurst, to fill his shoes. The president has since denied this.

Landlocked Uganda lies at a crossroads of trade routes from mineral-rich forests of eastern Congo to oil-producing southern Sudan and Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.

Recent oil discoveries around Lake Albert, which Uganda shares with Democratic Republic of Congo, have also turned area into an important new frontier in the hunt for crude.

Two decades of relative stability since Mr Museveni led forces that overthrew late dictators Idi Amin and Milton Obote has seen Uganda's economy grow at an average of six percent, with a forecast of 8.1 percent for 2008/09.

The former cattle herder turned student activist and rebel has been credited with creating a big rise in living standards for most Ugandans, though country remains desperately poor.

Addressing African leaders at a summit last month, Museveni delivered a typically robust defence of his 22 years in power.

Poverty levels in Uganda had been cut to 31 percent in 2005/06 from 56 percent in 1992/93, he said, mostly thanks to business-friendly reforms that were unpopular at the time but attracted foreign and local investment.

Uganda has however never had a peaceful handover of power in more than four decades since independence from Britain.

Analysts say Museveni has contributed to that by actively sidelining all would-be successors.

"It's a big problem and all a bit sadly predictable," said Tom Cargill of London's Chatham House think tank.

"The leader comes along saying this is a fundamental change, Africa's problem is leaders who want to stay in power for too long. Then surprise, surprise, after a decade in power he finds that it gets harder and harder to leave." Mr Cargill said.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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