By Elias Biryabarema

KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda’s veteran president Yoweri Museveni warned that anybody breaking the peace would remorse their actions as he formally began his bid for one more time period in workplace on Monday.

The 76-year-old, who’s Africa’s third-longest ruling head of state, is because of face Bobi Wine, a pop star turned opposition politician, in a February vote.

“I’m listening to … some folks wish to disturb our peace. Whoever tries will remorse (it),” the previous guerrilla chief mentioned after the Electoral Fee accepted his nomination papers.

“For us we don’t joke, we fought to convey peace,” he instructed reporters in feedback broadcast on tv.

Supporters have praised Museveni for bringing in funding and bolstering the financial system whereas opponents have accused him of crushing dissent and presiding over widespread graft – expenses that he has repeatedly dismissed.

Lawmakers from his ruling Nationwide Resistance Motion (NRM) celebration voted to alter the structure in 2017, deleting a 75-year age cap on presidents that might have barred him from in search of re-election.

Formally he can be working for his fifth time period in workplace – although he dominated for 9 years with out dealing with a vote after coming to energy in 1986 following a guerrilla battle.

Bobi Wine, Museveni’s 38-year-old principal challenger, is because of be named because the opposition Nationwide Unity Platform (NUP) celebration’s presidential candidate on Tuesday.

The musician, who put out a tune within the early days of the pandemic encouraging folks to scrub their arms, has constructed up a following amongst Uganda’s youthful voters – round 75% of the inhabitants is under 30.

Wine, whose actual title is Robert Kyagulanyi, mentioned dozens of police and troopers stormed his celebration’s places of work in Kamwokya, a suburb of the capital Kampala, in October.

Police and the army have repeatedly dispersed his rallies. Supporters have been utilizing his distinctive purple beret as their image, however the authorities final 12 months labeled the merchandise as army garb and banned its civilian use.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Modifying by George Obulutsa and Andrew Heavens)