Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said that his government is not supporting any presidential candidate in Kenya ahead of the August 9 polls.

In a Monday, January 24 interview with a local newspaper, Museveni, said that political matters in Kenya are purely a Kenyan affair.

“Elections in Kenya or any other African country are a matter of the people of that country,” Museveni said.

According to Museveni, his government has a policy that dictates that nobody should take sides when it comes to elections of a neighbouring country.

His announcement comes after speculations that he could be backing Deputy President William Ruto who is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader.

In August 2021, Ruto was barred from leaving the country by the Ministry of Interior as he headed to Uganda.

According to the Ministry, DP Ruto was not cleared to leave the country.

In his response, Ruto said that he does not need permission from anyone in order to leave the country on private issues adding that the matter was well planned with the aim of embarrassing him.

In July 2021, Ruto was the Chief Guest in a function where a vaccine manufacturing plant was set up by Museveni’s government.

The stone-laying ceremony saw locals speculate that Museveni was preferring Ruto to any other candidate in the 2022 general election.

Seven years ago, Ruto joined Museveni during political campaigns, a move that attracted condemnation from Ugandans.

In 2019, Ruto was also hosted in Kampala’s State House by Museveni.