Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has given medals to Equatorial Guinea strongman Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasago and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame for helping him seize power in 1986.

Museveni took over from Milton Obote after a five year bush war.

On Thursday, he gave Kagame and Nguema the "Pearl of Africa" medals – the highest honour reserved for heads of state at the 26th anniversary celebrations for the 1981- 6 NRM/NRA uprising.

He also gave his fellow fighters medals for the role they played in the war. "We thank you for helping us during the struggle. You helped us get rid of a bad regime," he told the recipients. 



Accepting the medal Kagame said: "I am greatly humbled and honoured. I wish to express my deepest gratitude for this recognition."

You helped us get rid of a bad regime

Nguema, who is one of Africa's longest serving leaders, called for solidarity among leaders on the continent.



Museveni claimed he had achieved a lot since he came to power, while boasting that there was no country with more freedom of speech than Uganda.

On the recently discovered oil in the country, Museveni said: "Oil money will be used for development and not luxuries. It will be used to put in place infrastructures like roads and railways not to buy cosmetics for our sisters," he said.