Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, the head of the Red Card Front advocacy group, has stated that he has no desire to assume any leadership role if they succeed in ending NRM’s regime.
According to Besigye, liberation would only occur when the opposition successfully removes President Yoweri Museveni from power, who has been in control of the country for the last 37 years.
Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a press conference at his offices on Katonga Road in Kampala.
He clarified that although he had resigned from his position as the President of the Forum for Democratic Party, some people still misunderstood his motives and interpreted his actions as a ploy to gain a political position.
He hopes that by not taking up any leadership position, he shall set a distinction between a struggle for the common good and that for personal gain.
Dr Besigye who is a former personal doctor to President Museveni, left the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in 1999 to become an opposition leader. He has since referred to Uganda’s leader as a “dictator”.
In his address, Dr. Besigye could not resist reiterating his call for Ugandans, especially the youth, to rise up and take ownership of the country, as he firmly believes that Uganda is currently under state capture.
He emphasized the need for a complete overhaul and a change in the corrupt systems that have led the country to its present state. He also expressed his belief that the NRM establishment, which he refers to as the government, is on the verge of collapse and needs only a small push to fall entirely.
While, Uganda’s constitution outlines the process for changing regimes, which is primarily through elections, the opposition does not have confidence in this method due to allegations of election rigging in past cycles.
Despite contesting the results in court, the opposition has not been successful in obtaining a favorable ruling. Besigye refers to Uganda’s elections as an auction that goes to the highest bigger who possess money and or guns.
As an alternative to the ballot, political activists led by Besigye have turned to what they see as the three pillars of removing the current regime: mobilizing the masses, organizing them, and taking action that will enable them to take control of the state.
Although opposition political parties have attempted to mobilize the masses, their efforts have on several occasions been hindered by security forces. However, Besigye maintains that they cannot stand by and allow injustice to occur, as opposition activities are suppressed while pro-government ones are allowed to continue unhindered.
Dr. Besigye pointed out the double standard of the government in using its power to silence opposition while allowing General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is rumored to be a potential successor to his father, to freely mobilize and hold public events without interference from security forces.
Besigye emphasized that they will not allow General Muhoozi to monopolize access to the public and are willing to mobilize even if it means putting their lives at risk.
Besigye however expressed his disappointment with some members of the opposition who engage in infighting instead of focusing on the main goal. He believes that in order to bring about change, some conflicts are necessary, but others can be resolved after achieving their goal.
He urged change-seekers to focus on what unites them instead of what divides them. He says that for proper organization, the opposition should fight the good fight and never seek personal gain.
Dr. Besigye announced that his pressure group has started engaging with individuals from different political parties, including the leading opposition party, National Unity Platform (NUP), to work together and bring about the change they have longed for.
It should be noted that although various opposition parties agree on the need to remove Museveni from power, they have been unable to reach a consensus on how to achieve this, despite signing memorandums of understanding. As a result, some members of these parties have failed to effectively work together towards this goal.
An example of such differences is when Nobert Mao, the leader of the Democratic Party, the oldest political party in the country, deviated from the consensus of other opposition leaders and signed a memorandum of understanding with the president.
According to the memorandum of understanding, Mao was given a cabinet position, and he has since noted that Museveni can be persuaded to peacefully transition out of power which can be preceded by constitutional reviews and related changes.
Mao who was by the said MOU, given a cabinet position, has since noted that Museveni can be sweet-talked out of power through a peaceful transition which can be presided over by the constitution review and related changes.
But to Dr. Besigye, talks with Museveni can only happen when discussing how he, Museveni should leave office because nothing can be resolved without changing the current leadership.
On his part, the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago says, Ugandans seem to be waking up now to appreciate the challenges that face their country. He also urged them to continue seeking to liberate their nation.
