Ugandan Leader Seen Planning to Extend Rule After Cabinet Change

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s changes to his cabinet at the weekend rewarded close allies and dismissed potential opponents, signaling his intention to extend his 29-year rule, Teneo Intelligence said.Museveni replaced Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka with her deputy, Matia Kasaija, because she was viewed as “less loyal” to the ruling National Resistance Movement, Ahmed Salim, an analyst at Teneo Intelligence in Dubai, said in an e-mailed research note. The 70-year-old leader also appointed David Bahati, author of an anti-gay bill that led to cuts in aid by donors, as a minister of state for planning to boost support from the youth and religious conservatives, Salim said.Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986, when a five-year war ended. He has won all four elections held since 1996, though the last vote in 2011 was criticized by international observers and rejected by opposition parties who said it was marred by voter intimidation and fraud. Ugandan lawmakers in 2005 removed presidential term limits, allowing candidates to seek re-election until the age of 75. Read more