A former army commander in Uganda, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde has announced his intention to challenge President Yoweri Museveni for the presidency.
The former Security Minister has said he is currently consulting for his presidential bid and has already notified the Electoral Commission (EC).
Gen Tumukunde was the man who ran President Museveni’s 2016 re-election campaign but says he wan’t to take up the top job since his former boss has failed to deliver.
He told a local newspaper, Daily Monitor that “My consultations will also extend to the currently existing political groupings and/ or political parties, security agencies and law enforcement agencies, the rural population ,especially farmers, urban dwellers, the youth, women, entrepreneurs, the elderly, public servants at both national and local government levels.”
Nomination of presidential candidates will take place in October. Tumukunde now joins Musician turned lawmaker, Bobi Wine as the two individuals who have publicly declared their intention to topple Museveni.
Museveni’s supporters have dismissed the former army commander’s potential threat to Museveni’s re-election next year.
Rogers Mulindwa who speaks for the NRM party said “Museveni is tested and he is a candidate in his own category, he can face any challenge. You can’t equate the Tumukunde challenge to the five- year bush war challenge.”
President Museveni seized power in 1986 after taking part in rebellions to end the brutal rule of Idi Amin and Milton Obote.
He has now become one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders and doesn’t seem ready to let go power just yet.
Source: Africafeeds.com
