Keep off Ugandan politics, Mbabazi tells DP Ruto

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has been told to keep off Ugandan politics as the country prepares to hold its third election since becoming a multi-party democracy in 2005.

Addressing the media, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said Ruto had no business campaigning for President Yoweri Museveni saying it is up to Ugandans to choose who they want to be their President.

“Whereas I’m an integrationist, until we achieve that integration Mr Ruto should keep off Ugandan politics,” he said.

In December last year, DP Ruto accompanied Museveni on a perceived vote-hunt mission at Kapchorwa in Eastern Uganda.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet and a host of legislators affiliated to the Deputy President are reported to have held campaigns in various parts of Uganda to drum up support for Museveni.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has also been reported to have hosted Museveni’s key rivals Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye to urge them to unite to unseat the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leader from power which he has held for 30 years.

Both candidates, however, decided to go it alone.

Kenya has for long been involved, directly or indirectly, in the political affairs of neighbouring East African countries, especially Uganda and Tanzania.

During the 2015 Tanzanian elections, for instance, CORD brigade led by Raila Odinga voiced their support for Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, who eventually emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, Mbabazi has differed with President Museveni’s support for African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying the drive is misplaced.

“I was not given a chance during Saturday’s debate to speak on matters ICC. I think the international court is necessary and should stay,” he stated.

Mbabazi has served under Museveni in different positions since 1986 when the NRM leader became President. He was later sacked as Prime Minister in 2014, a position he had held after Museveni won the 2011 presidential election.

The 67-year-old trained lawyer is making his first shot at the presidency and has anchored his campaign on change and continuity.

He has, in several occasions, claimed that he had noticed a rot in Museveni’s government during his time as Minister but his attempts to cleanse it had faced resistance.

The last polls released in January this year placed Mbabazi third with 12 per cent behind Besigye who had 32 per cent and Museveni (51 per cent).

Supporters of Mbabazi and Besigye have, however, dismissed the polls saying they are government’s orchestrated scheme to save face and boost their reportedly dismissal chances of winning the polls.

Both Mbabazi and Besigye have exuded confidence of emerging victorious in the February 18th elections.

@benjaminwafula