Uganda's long-time president Yoweri Museveni, 80, was declared a candidate for the council in next year's presidential election, opening the way for him to seek a path to govern for nearly 40 years.
In his acceptance speech, Museveni said he had responded to the phone and would urge him to turn Uganda into a “high-income country” if elected.
Museveni critics say he has ruled with iron hands since he seized the rebel leader in 1986.
Since then, he has won every election held, and the constitution has been amended twice to remove age and term limits to keep him in office.
Pop singer-selling politician Bobi Wine is expected to be the main challenger for Museveni in the elections held next January.
Wine told the BBC in April that he would compete with Museveni if he nominated the National Unified Platform by his party, but he would become increasingly “hard” as state suppression becomes increasingly fierce.
“The objection in Uganda means being labeled as a terrorist,” he said.
The real name of the wine is Robert Kyagulanyi, who in the last election in 2021, Museveni hurt 35% to 59% in a poll due to rigging charges and crackdown on the opposition.
Another prominent opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, has been detained since November since being charged with treason in November. He denied the allegation, saying his arrest was political.
Museveni said in a speech at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) meeting on Saturday that he has brought stability and progress in Uganda.
It is crucial that Uganda “has not missed the historical bus as it did in the past when Europe changed, Africa stagnated and enslaved”, he said.
Museveni added that he hopes Uganda will make a “qualitative leap” and become a “high-level central income country.”
He added: “Other countries in Asia with fewer natural resources have done it. We can do it.”
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