Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has sacked Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, a former ally who many viewed as a natural successor to the top position.
Members of the ruling party have openly urged 69-year-old Museveni to retire, although some loyalists insist Museveni remains popular across the country and want him to stay in office. He and Mbabazi had been close until recently, when Museveni berated Mbabazi for not consulting him before making decisions.
The change was detailed in a letter to parliament, which thanked Mbabazi, who had held the position since May 2011, for his contribution to the country. Health minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has been appointed the new Prime Minister.
After Museveni seized power in 1986 following a guerrilla war, he said he would not rule like some African leaders who kept power for too long. He has since fallen out with some of his former comrades, including opposition leader and three-time presidential challenger Kizza Besigye, who accuse Museveni of straying from the ideals that led them to wage a war against dictatorship.
