Museveni refuses to comment about his main rivals Besigye and Mbabazi

Deputy President William Ruto (left) chats with Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni after the national prayer's breakfast at Africana Hotel in Kampala Uganda. Mr Ruto accompanied Mt Museveni to a rally at Kapchorwa on December 9, 2015. PHOTO | CHARLES KIMANI |DPPS

What you need to know:

  • Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday declined to speculate on his chances of securing a fifth term during the February 2016 elections.
  • He was speaking at press briefing in Kapchorwa accompanied by Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto.
  • National Resistance Movement vice-chairman for Eastern Uganda Mr Mike Mukula said Mr Museveni would bag 80 per cent of the votes.
  • Mr Museveni chided FDC flag bearer Kizza Besigye and the Go Forward candidate Amama Mbabazi for meeting Kenya’s opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga, saying ‘they are borrowing a leaf from a loser”.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday declined to speculate on his chances of securing a fifth term during the February 2016 elections.

Responding to questions by the Daily Monitor about how he will fend off the challenge from his two main rivals—FDC flag bearer Kizza Besigye and the Go Forward candidate Amama Mbabazi, Mr Museveni said he is not ready to speculate.

Mr Museveni who was speaking at press briefing in Kapchorwa, was accompanied by Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto.

The President’s caution is in stark contrast to that of senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) officials who are brimming with confidence.

They have declared that Mr Museveni would clinch a commanding victory of over 80 per cent of the votes to retain the top office.

“The election is on February 18, let us wait and see what would happen. You do not have to have blood pressure because of speculating,” Mr Museveni responded.

At rallies in the Teso sub-region, NRM vice-chairman for Eastern Uganda Mr Mike Mukula said Mr Museveni would bag 80 per cent of the votes. However, the attendance was lukewarm.

President chided Mr Besigye and Mr Mbabazi (under The Democratic Alliance convention) for meeting Kenya’s opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga, saying ‘they are borrowing a leaf from a loser”.

MET A LOSER

Mr Odinga running on a Cord ticket lost the 2013 presidential election to Jubilee alliance’s Uhuru Kenyatta.

Uganda’s opposition leaders met Mr Odinga in Nairobi in October to discuss the mechanism of coalition building.

Mr Ruto was quoted as saying Uganda’s opposition chiefs had met a loser.

 “I said then that they (Uganda’s opposition) came to meet the people who lost. I also said they could only have learnt lessons on how to lose. I have no problem with them meeting Mr Odinga or any other politician in Kenya,” said Mr Ruto.

The Deputy President has been in the spotlight since he met NRM losers in the primaries from the Sebei sub-region. NRM has been grappling with how to appease them amid fears they could decamp to Mr Mbabazi’s camp.

The leaders declined to clear the air on Mr Ruto’s involvement in NRM affairs. Mr Museveni dismissed it as “some rumours from the media.

“My presence here may be interpreted as helping in Museveni’s campaign. Museveni has been campaigning for a very long time. He has sufficient experience and knowledge,” said Mr Ruto.