Ugandan president removes prime minister and former ally

Mbabazi KAMPALA - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has replaced Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, the government said in a statement on Friday, removing a former ally who some analysts had seen as a potential future contender for the top job.

A lawyer, Mbabazi has enjoyed a close relationship with Uganda's veteran leader, but relations between the two had become strained recently, with Museveni accusing Mbabazi of taking decisions in the ruling party without consulting him.

Mbabazi had not said if he planned to run for president.