President Yoweri Museveni has 'happily agreed' to contest for sixth term in the 2021 elections, saying he and his NRM party still have an uncompleted mission of taking Uganda to a higher level.
Yesterday, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs endorsed Museveni's 2021 sole candidature. Addressing the NRM caucus retreat National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi today, Museveni agreed to the sole candidature endorsement which was first proposed by party's top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) last month. Museveni reportedly said he is still able to serve the country.
"I thank my colleagues in CEC and the NRM parliamentary caucus for forwarding my name to continue adding more steps on our mission-oriented journey. Am therefore very pleased with your confidence showed in me and since am still very able and I happen to be among the most conversant with this journey, I happily agree to serve," said Museveni.
According to the NRM senior information manager, Rogers Mulindwa, Museveni's agreement to run in the 2021 presidential race attracted cheers from the legislators. Mulindwa says that Museveni noted that he, together with the NRM party membership coupled with the assured economic recovery, were destined to deliver the country to a higher level, adding that there are very many good steps already implemented in a very positive direction.
The president reportedly said that he was convinced that together with the party leadership, they could make NRM invulnerable, not vulnerable to any attack and deal with the issues of the youth and job creation among others.
Museveni's acceptance means that he will contest for a sixth term in office come 2021 when he will be 76 years old having started leading Uganda in 1986.
The motion to have Museveni continue leading the country was on Sunday moved by the Eastern Region PWDs representative, Hellen Asamo saying that Uganda needed Museveni now more than ever before for his firm guidance and mentorship of the party ,embership.
A similar motion was in the run up to the 2016 presidential elections, moved by then Northern Youth MP, Evelyn Anite still at Kyankwanzi, and Museveni was also then endorsed as the sole presidential candidate for NRM.
The move locked out his rivals in the party who included former prime minister and then party's secretary general Amama Mbabazi who had expressed interest in contesting against Museveni. Mbabazi was subsequently forced out the party and run for Presidency under the Go Forward Movement. He lost the contest to Museveni garnering less than 1 per cent.
Source
