How Africa News
A group of Ugandan doctors generated outrage on social media after kneeling before President Yoweri Museveni and asking him to run in the 2026 general elections, according to the BBC.
Museveni, 78, is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. He came to power in 1986 and has been the country’s leader ever since. In 2005, the country’s parliament voted to remove the two-term limit from the constitution, allowing him to run for another term. According to reports, the septuagenarian became able to run again in 2017 after the age limit of 75 was removed.
The doctors who knelt before President Museveni were claimed to be Uganda Medical Association members (UMA). They were attending a patriotism seminar when their leader directed them to kneel.
During his speech, UMA president Dr. Samuel Odongo Oledo reportedly praised the president for revamping the East African nation’s health system and improving the welfare of medical health workers. Dr. Oledo also invited President Museveni to run in the country’s presidential election in 2026.
But the gesture raised eyebrows on social media, with a number of users accusing the members of having a soft spot for politicians, BBC reported. The UMA also tweeted that the group’s gesture did not “represent modus operandi of the association”.
“Uganda Medical Association has always engaged with the president through formal, professional ways including appreciating him through our annual awards,” the association added.
VIDEO: Uganda Medical Association (UMA) members led by their President Dr Samuel Odongo Oledo on Saturday knelt before President Museveni and asked him to stand again in 2026 as a presidential candidate #NTVNews pic.twitter.com/BkldMbKEwB
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) December 4, 2022
