Uganda president's ally, 'probable successor', dies

NAIROBI, May 2 (Reuters) A top Ugandan army officer and leading heir-apparent to President Yoweri Museveni has died suddenly in Kenya, state media said today.

Widely seen as the east African nation's second most powerful man, Brigadier Noble Mayombo, 42, suffered organ failure and was flown by presidential jet to Nairobi, where he died yesterday.

A close Museveni aide, he was rapidly promoted to military intelligence chief, then Defence Ministry permanent secretary and chairman of the state's New Vision media group.

Museveni, 63, has ruled Uganda since defeating the late dictators Idi Amin and Milton Obote 20 years ago. The topic of his successor is endlessly debated.

Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said some Ugandans saw the president's qualities in Mayombo. ''(They) were seeing him as a probable replacement,'' he told New Vision newspaper.

REUTERS ABM RK1501