Over the weekend, a group of doctors in Uganda caused a stir by kneeling before long-term President Yoweri Museveni and asking him to run for a seventh term.
The 78-year-old dictator has ruled since 1986. The next general election is scheduled for 2026.
According to media coverage of the event, the doctors from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) were attending a patriotism symposium in Kampala when they were led by their leader to kneel before the president.
According to the Nile Post news site, UMA boss Dr. Samuel Odongo Oledo praised the president in his speech for transforming the country’s health system and improving the welfare of medical workers.
He then asked President Museveni to run for president again in 2026, according to the NTV television station.
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
The gesture sparked outrage on social media, with many accusing the group of being politically motivated.
However, in a tweet, the UMA distanced itself from the gesture, stating that it did not “represent the association’s mode of operation.”
Uganda Medical Association has always engaged with the President @KagutaMuseveni through formal, professional ways including appreciating him through our Annual Awards.
The act of kneeling by @dr_oledo and the team doesn’t represent Modus Operandi of the Association. https://t.co/ilSYezQXVN— Uganda Medical Association (@TheUMAofficial) December 3, 2022
“Uganda Medical Association has always engaged with the president in formal, professional ways, including appreciating him through our annual awards,” the statement said.
