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Uganda's opposition to field joint presidential candidate in 2016 elections

Xinhua, February 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Uganda's opposition groups have formed a committee to spearhead the selection of a joint presidential candidate to contest against the country's incumbent president in the next year's presidential elections, an official said on Monday.

Wafula Oguttu, the leader of opposition in parliament, told Xinhua by telephone that a committee of 40 members, which includes eminent persons, opposition party leaders, civil society and religious leaders has been put in place to lead the selection process of a single joint opposition candidate to battle against President Yoweri Museveni in the February 2016 elections.

"We have agreed to forge a united front to challenge president Museveni's long stay in power. The committee will help us to have one candidate in the next year's presidential elections," said Oguttu.

The opposition move comes barely a year after the ruling National Resistance Movement party legislators in March 2014 endorsed President Museveni as a sole candidate in the next year's elections.

The opposition parties have reportedly agreed to register a formal coalition with the Uganda's Electoral Commission.

President Museveni has been in power in the East African country since 1986 when he took over after a five-year long rebellion.

Some of the opposition leaders are calling for the boycott of next year's elections unless the government adopts political reforms for free and fair elections. Endi