The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Uganda’s ruling Political Party National Resistance movement (NRM ended the weeklong retreat on Tuesday. The party’s Apex organ among others endorsed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the party’s sole candidate for the 2021 presidential elections which have started gaining momentum.
This is the second time the party is taking this direction. In the 2016 presidential elections, the party endorsed Museveni as the sole presidential candidate but later met resistance from the then Party General Secretary Amama Mbabazi who expressed interest to run against Museveni and was subsequently forced out the party.
Last week, Local government leaders, under their umbrella body,Uganda Local Government Leaders Association (ULGA) also endorsed President Museveni, the NRM chairperson, as the sole party candidate in the 2021 presidential elections.
The decision by CEC means, president Museveni 74, who has been in power for 33 years will now contest for a sixth term in office. This makes Mr. Museveni one of six Africa’s longest serving presidents. He became president after his rebel group, NRA took power in January 1986 and for the next three decades he has been in charge of Uganda.