Uganda: Just A Little Bit Longer

UGANDA

Just a Little Bit Longer

Pay attention to what is happening in Uganda as President Yoweri Museveni tries to change his country’s constitution so that he can run for reelection in 2021 – when he will be 78 years old.

Authorities have already jailed the country’s most prominent opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, on charges of attempted murder, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The arrest follows violent clashes between police and protesters who want to keep the constitutional prohibition against anyone older than 75 from running for the presidency.

In office since 1986 – he just keeps on winning elections while international observers raise questions about Uganda’s voting process  – Museveni is already one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, Bloomberg noted.

That’s not new on the continent.

Other long timers who keep clinging on are Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Paul Biya of Cameroon and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, USA Today reported. Those men are 75, 84 and 93 years old, respectively. In other cases, aging strongmen have stepped aside, paving the way for their children to take over. That’s how Togo President Faure Gnassingbé assumed power.

The clashes in Uganda occurred last week when Besigye and others insisted on holding an anti-government rally in a stadium despite a police order not to assemble.

The Independent of Uganda shared the wording of the police order.

“Consultations must not include illegal demonstrations, illegal processions, inciting violence, use of hate campaigns, use of abusive language, acts of hooliganism of any sort, intimidation of any persons perceived to be supporting the removal of the age limit,” said the police statement.

Violence erupted when police tried to block a crowd from entering the stadium. Police claim one person was killed and several were injured. But the demonstrators insisted the police killed two people in the melee.

Opposition figures said Museveni’s response to criticism of his plan to change the constitution, his crackdown on the rally and the jailing of Besigye have all laid bare his “greed for leadership,” as the Daily Monitor reported.

“His true colors have come out,” said Gen. Mugisha Muntu, president of the Forum for Democratic Change coalition that opposes Museveni. “The Bible says we shall see them by the fruits. He has undressed himself vividly. He is now completely naked.”

Clothed or not, Museveni is probably willing to increase the pressure on those who might oppose him. But he’s tamping down a pressure cooker that could also blow up in his and everyone else’s faces.