MUSEVENI’S SUCCESSOR? ‘Don’t Be Surprised if Amama Mbabazi Becomes Uganda’s Next President’

Former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi (JPAM) is back in the news after he accompanied President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni on trips abroad.

A former powerful government official and ex-secretary general of the ruling NRM, Mbabazi fell out with Museveni towards the 2016 presidential election.

Museveni sacked him as prime minister, replacing him with Dr Livingstone Ruhakana Rugunda.

Mbabazi also lost his job as NRM secretary general to Justine Kasule Lumumba.

He participated in the 2016 presidential election but lost so miserably.

Mbabazi has since reconciled with Museveni.

So, when Mbabazi recently accompanied Museveni to his trip to the Republic of Congo and Senegal, some Ugandans wondered if he was the real ‘crown prince.’

On return, Museveni and Mbabazi were welcomed at the Entebbe International Airport by Vice President Jessica Alupo, and Minister for the Presidency, Babirye Milly Babalanda.

Now, veteran journalist Timothy Kalyegira is predicting a Mbabazi presidency.

“Shortly after swearing-in as president on Jan. 29, 1986, Yoweri Museveni and Amama Mbabazi flew to Kinshasa, Zaïre, for talks with President Mobutu. Last week, the two men attend a security summit in Brazzaville, Congo,” wrote Kalyegira.

“Don’t be surprised if Mbabazi is your next president.”

President Museveni is still in his first year of his new five-year term of office that ends in 2026.

The 77-year-old leader, who will have ruled Uganda for four decades by the end of his current term, has not yet ruled out standing for president in 2026.

According to veteran journalist and commentator Andrew Mwenda, Museveni will stand for president as long as he is not dead. (Read story here).