Museveni: I Will Not Support Ruto's Presidential Campaign

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Uganda President Yoweri Museveni (left) and President William Ruto (right)
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Uganda President Yoweri has ruled out supporting Deputy President William Ruto in the upcoming General Election.

Speaking on Monday, January 24, Museveni responded to concerns that his government would support the DP given their close personal relationship in the past decade.

However, the strongman stated that his country would maintain a policy on impartiality in foreign elections noting that Uganda had in the past suffered due to external interference by other countries. 

William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni conversing
Deputy President William Ruto (left) and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni (right) in Uganda
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"The elections in Kenya or any other country is a matter of the people of that country. Those people are the ones who are competent in deciding what to do. Supporting Ruto, we'll never do anything like that. We shall never take sides," he stated.

Ruto had in the 2016 and 2021 Ugandan presidential elections campaigned for Museveni and his National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party. 

Further, DP Ruto's recent tour to Uganda, where he was expected to meet Museveni - had been cut short after he was blocked from travelling to the neighbouring country.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) later questioned the relationship between Ruto and Museveni- terming it as suspicious.

"We are not bothered with whether Ruto was cleared or not, we are interested in his relationship with Uganda," ODM chairman John Mbadi stated.

His sentiments were echoed by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who claimed that Ruto received bad political advice from the Ugandan leader who stayed in power for over three decades.

"From where Ruto is getting political advice, it can be revealed that he would not relinquish power, he is not fit for power. We want Ruto to come clear on his relationship with NRM of Uganda."

"Ruto wants to ride to power by taking advantage of those in desperation hence pushing them to deeper misery... Ruto's relationship with Museveni is aimed at creating chaos in the event he is defeated in 2022," he pointed out. 

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on a phone call in his office on Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on a phone call in his office on Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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