Discussing Democracy In East Africa

An activist opposed to the extension of presidential age limits is arrested and carried off by uniformed and plain-clothes police, while shouting for America and Israel to come to the rescue of Ugandans, near the Parliament building in Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Ugandan police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested dozens of people opposed to plans to introduce legislation that could allow the longtime president Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)
An activist opposed to the extension of presidential age limits is arrested and carried off by uniformed and plain-clothes police, while shouting for America and Israel to come to the rescue of Ugandans, near the Parliament building in Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Ugandan police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested dozens of people opposed to plans to introduce legislation that could allow the longtime president Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)
An activist opposed to the extension of presidential age limits is arrested and carried off by uniformed and plain-clothes police, while shouting for America and Israel to come to the rescue of Ugandans, near the Parliament building in Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Ugandan police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested dozens of people opposed to plans to introduce legislation that could allow the longtime president Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)
An activist opposed to the extension of presidential age limits is arrested and carried off by uniformed and plain-clothes police, while shouting for America and Israel to come to the rescue of Ugandans, near the Parliament building in Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Ugandan police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested dozens of people opposed to plans to introduce legislation that could allow the longtime president Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)

Discussing Democracy In East Africa

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Before assuming office 31 years ago, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni  wrote that the problem of Africa is “leaders who want to overstay in power.”

Now Museveni is vying to remain in power. 

By law, Uganda’s presidents can only be re-elected until the age of 75. At 72, Museveni’s election is likely to be blocked. Members of parliament brawled over the issue last week, but whether Musaveni will remain in power for life is still uncertain. 

Next door in Kenya, another presidential dynasty is fighting to remain in power. Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s first president, was reported to have won that country’s election in August. But the constitutional court cited widespread voter fraud when they called for a re-vote, scheduled for October 26, 2017. 

Kisuule Magala is a Ugandan-American journalist. He joins us to discuss democracy and resistance to lifelong rule in East Africa.