By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press-Uganda Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said he will not take sides in the Kenyan presidential elections scheduled for August, dispelling claims and rumours that Uganda and the ruling National Resistance Movement Party (NRM) support Deputy President William Ruto.
The race
Kenyan Deputy President Ruto, ODM leader and former prime minister Raila Odinga, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and several others, including former governors and diplomats, have expressed interest in running to become Kenya’s fifth president.
The promise
Speaking to local media in Kampala on 24 January 2022, President Museveni explained that Elections in Kenya or any other African country are a matter of the people of that country. Adding that his government never takes sides in the internal matters of other countries and they do not have a preferred candidate in Kenya.
Relationship
Ruto shares a close relationship with the long-serving Ugandan president and has previously come under criticism for getting involved in Uganda’s politics.
Visits
DP Ruto had made frequent visits to Uganda, including in 2015 when he joined President Museveni on a campaign rally in Kapchorwa and referred to him as a role model until he was blocked from flying to Uganda in August last year for what he had termed a private visit,
In 2018, Ruto was again back in Uganda at the launch of the Kapchorwa-Suam road that links to Kenya. He reportedly had private talks with Museveni. In 2019 Ruto was hosted by Museveni at State House Kampala, accompanied by a section of allies, but details into their three-hour meeting remained a mystery.
Inference
In July 2021, at the personal invite of Museveni, DP Ruto was the chief guest at the official stone-laying ceremony for the manufacturing plant, igniting debate in Uganda media over Museveni’s possible interest in Kenya’s General Election outcome.
Following talks with Museveni during one of Ruto’s visits, the rumour mill had it that the two discussed a United Africa and Ruto’s presidency.
Defense
Senior presidential press secretary Lindah Nabusayi, at the time, explained that Ruto was a supporter of President Museveni’s ideology and believes in his vision for East Africa and Africa.
Fears and alternative
Allaying fears that the elections in Kenya normally destabilize the flow of goods, especially fuel as was the case in 2007 when the post-election violence caused a scarcity of fuel in Uganda for weeks, Museveni said there is already an alternative route through Dar es Salaam and therefore, there is no cause for alarm.
