File photo of President Yoweri Museveni. (Agence France-Presse)
Kampala, Uganda:
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday sacked the east African nation's prime minister, widely seen a potential challenger to the veteran leader.
The sacked prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, had been a long-term ally of Museveni, aged 69 and Uganda's leader since 1986, but in March he was ousted as party head of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement amid signs of tensions.
A government spokesman confirmed that Mbabazi had now also been sacked from the position of prime minister.
"Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda is the new prime minister. The reshuffle in cabinet only affects Amama Mbabazi," said the spokesman, Ofwono Opondo.
Earlier this year Museveni was yet again chosen as the NRM's candidate for presidential elections due in 2016, which will be his 30th year in power, but there had been widespread speculation that Mbabazi had been hoping to challenge the incumbent.
The new prime minister is one of Museveni's closest allies, and has in the past served as minister for health, the interior and foreign affairs.
The sacked prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, had been a long-term ally of Museveni, aged 69 and Uganda's leader since 1986, but in March he was ousted as party head of Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement amid signs of tensions.
A government spokesman confirmed that Mbabazi had now also been sacked from the position of prime minister.
"Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda is the new prime minister. The reshuffle in cabinet only affects Amama Mbabazi," said the spokesman, Ofwono Opondo.
Earlier this year Museveni was yet again chosen as the NRM's candidate for presidential elections due in 2016, which will be his 30th year in power, but there had been widespread speculation that Mbabazi had been hoping to challenge the incumbent.
The new prime minister is one of Museveni's closest allies, and has in the past served as minister for health, the interior and foreign affairs.
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