Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been elected as chairman of the Interim Executive Council (IEC) of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), according to The New Vision newspaper on Wednesday.

At the one-day closed-door meeting held here on Tuesday, the movement has "elected President Museveni as the chairman of the IEC pending the elections of permanent office bearers later this year or early next year," IEC spokesman Ofwono Opondo was quoted as saying.

The IEC is the policy-making organ of the ruling NRM.

Museveni replaces Al Hajji Moses Kigongo who now becomes the first vice-chairperson.

Former local government minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali was elected as second vice-chairperson.

Museveni, who was inducted in the NRM after he formerly retired from the army to concentrate on politics, is immediately mandated to tour the country to consolidate the task forces ahead of the 2006 general elections.

Uganda will hold president and parliament elections in 2006.

Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, former vice president Specioza Kazibwe, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, ministers, members of parliament and other movement ideologues were present at Tuesday's meeting.

Source: Xinhua