20110207
reuters

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's army says it will respect the result of a presidential election even if long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni loses the Feb 18 vote.

The opposition has urged the military not to "frustrate" the election.

Museveni, who came to power 25 years ago, is widely expected to win a fourth term despite a strong challenge from former close ally Kizza Besigye, who has run twice before and was jailed on charges of treason and rape in 2006.

"In this new Uganda, power belongs to (the electorate)," military chief Aronda Nyakairima said at a celebration late on Sunday to mark the 20th anniversary of the day Museveni launched a guerrilla war against a military dictatorship.

"We in the military and the uniform are your servants."

The comments echo a pledge the army chief made in 2008 to support whoever wins the poll even if it is not Museveni -- who maintains close ties to the military.

"Given that the army is essentially Museveni's army and it's moulded and shaped in his own image, there is a concern that it is there to serve him first and foremost," newspaper columnist Bernard Tabaire told Reuters on Monday.

"There are rumours that if Museveni lost, the army wouldn't accept it, although they do say they are now trying to professionalise."