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World

Uganda's president, in power for 3 decades, seeks re-election as top challenger cries foul

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 25, 2005 file photo, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni gestures as he speaks during a news conference in a hotel in St Julians, Valletta, Malta. Uganda's long-serving president on Friday, July 31, 2015 declared his bid for re-election in 2016, saying the country needs him to stick around to continue its economic development. President Yoweri Museveni, who took power by force in 1986 before winning elections in 1996, said he needs another term to bring this poor East African country up to middle-income status. He has been re-elected three times before. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver,File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE-- In this Tuesday Jan. 3, 2006 file photo, Uganda's main opposition leader Kizza Besigye, right, and his wife, Winnie Byanyima, left, address a news conference in Kampala, Uganda. Uganda's long-serving president on Friday, July 31, 2015 declared his bid for re-election in 2016, saying the country needs him to stick around to continue its economic development. He will face a challenge from Kizza Besigye, who is widely expected to become the leader of a proposed united opposition (AP Photo, file) (The Associated Press)

KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda's long-serving president has declared his bid for re-election in 2016, saying he is backed by the historical leaders of the former rebel movement that has been in power since 1986.

President Yoweri Museveni said Friday that his goal now is to steer Uganda toward middle-income status.

But even as Museveni was launching his re-election bid, his former prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, said the ruling party was undemocratic and that its top leaders were actively trying to block his own presidential bid.

Mbabazi, who was fired as prime minister last year amid reports he harbored presidential ambitions, told reporters he would no longer seek the presidency as a member of the ruling party.

Mbabazi denounced the "lawless forces at work" as Museveni tries to maintain a firm grip on power.