* Museveni, Besigye fell out over ideology
* They rarely miss a chance to sling barbs at each other
By Elias Biryabarema
KAMPALA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Disillusioned by long-time President Yoweri Museveni but reluctant to embrace his main rival Kizza Besigye, Ugandan's often liken the two to greedy siblings wrangling over a dead father's estate.
The squabbling pair, who will face-off for their third presidential contest on Feb. 18, were for a long time very much like brothers -- at the helm of a rebel force that seized power from a military dictatorship in 1986.
Museveni emerged as the president of the east African country and for nearly 19 years Besigye, who had been his field doctor during their five-year guerrilla war, loyally served him in a series of senior government positions.
But in 1999, he broke ranks.
In a surprising move, Besigye wrote a stinging letter, accusing his erstwhile ally of nepotism, corruption and betraying the ideals they held dear while in the bush. Since then they rarely miss a chance to sling barbs at each other.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> Analysts say their personalities and leadership style are at odds because their concepts of power were shaped in different ideological backgrounds, before they met and began their fight against a common enemy.
"Museveni's political life was inspired by communist-leaning guerrilla figures and movements, which explains his authoritarian and 'Big Man' mentality while Besigye treasures the supremacy of liberty and freedoms," said political analyst Peter Mwesige.
After seizing power, Museveni, 67, tried to maintain his socialist roots but, with the economy under pressure and to secure emergency loans, he soon embraced market reforms and the West embraced him.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton described him as one of the "new breed" of African leaders even as he ruled under a de facto one-party system.
But in recent years Museveni has had a love-hate relationship with the West -- disappointed presidential term limits were scrapped in 2005, but pleased he has been a loyal ally in standing up to Islamist rebels in chaotic Somalia.
Local critics say Museveni's long hold on power has been maintained by a deft melding of blunt authoritarianism, cunning charm and a mastery of patronage politics.
"I KNOW HIM INSIDE OUT"
In November 2005, just as campaigns got underway for the February 2006 elections, Besigye was arrested and charged with rape and treason. He successfully beat both cases and the judge who dismissed the charges said they were not credible enough to convict a chicken thief.
"Compared to other politicians, Besigye comes off as disciplined and straightforward and, if he wasn't, no doubt the government would have secured a conviction on his past transgressions," said Godbar Tumushabe, who heads Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment, a local think-tank.
On the campaign trail Besigye has struggled to reassure voters he has a chance of winning, having disappointed twice before in 2001 and 2006 -- when he accused Museveni of rigging the vote. The Supreme Court agreed there was rigging, but ruled it was not enough to affect the overall result.
"Remember I was Museveni's doctor in the bush," shouted the 54-year-old to a laughing crowd at a rally in a northern town. "I know him inside and out."
At rallies, Museveni has described Besigye as a coward who abandoned the army and says sustained high economic growth rates and stability are his biggest achievements.
Besigye has hit back saying those credentials are false. He says it is corruption, poverty, inequality and profligacy that have blossomed under Museveni's government.
He points to what he calls Museveni's extravagance, saying it is epitomised by the decision to spend ${esc.dollar}48 million in 2009 on a new luxury Gulfstream V jet for the president after he ditched a Gulfstream IV saying it had grown old and noisy.
(Editing by Barry Malone and James Macharia)
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