I will go if defeated in elections - Museveni

By David Lumu and Richard Drasmaku

"If I lose elections, I have got a job at home. I am a cattle keeper." This is how President Yoweri Museveni, the presidential flag bearer for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) replied to a question from journalists on whether he will accept defeat if he  lost  the February 2016 presidential elections.

Museveni also said that he will abide by the Constitutional 75 year-age-limit for presidents and retire peacefully." On the 75 year age limit, I will follow the constitution," he said.

Museveni was on Thursday addressing journalists at Arua State Lodge as he winds up the West Nile campaigns.
Article 102 (b) of the Constitution states that a person is qualified for election as President if such a person is not less than 35 years and not more than 75 years of age. This article has of late courted controversy with some actors petitioning the Constitutional court to interpret what happens when a serving president clocks 75 years while still serving his current term.
Museveni is 71 years.

The NRM candidate, who is also the incumbent, also dismissed claims minted on him by Opposition actors that he is power hungry.

"I am not power hungry. I am mission hungry," he said, emphasizing that he is in politics not to look for power but to accomplish certain missions such as the East African Community federation and social economic transformation of the country.

Arguing that he cannot be intimidated not to pursue his aspirations by Opposition actors such as Dr. Col. Kizza Besigye, the FDC flag bearer, Museveni said he cannot abandon the country to people who have no mission.

"I cannot be intimidated by people who have no mission. It is not power hunger but mission hunger," he said, describing himself as a man with a proven record in the country.

"Why did Besigye and Mbabazi think that by getting rid of a man with a proven record they can accomplish our mission rather than working with people of experience to solve the problems of Uganda," he said.

On the other hand, Museveni said that when Besigye left the army  in 2001, he left behind several unsolved issues such as cattle rustling in Karamoja, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Rwenzori and Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda.