By Bernard Ngabirano,
BUSHENYI:
“Many people are asking me to negotiate with Mr. Museveni on a peaceful transition and beg him to stepdown, but he will not see this. Colonialists were here for over 70yrs, why didn’t we negotiate with them to leave? The only mean to a peaceful transition when the constitution has been twisted is the captive to join the struggle for a fundamental change,” Besigye said.
Uganda’s opposition leader Rtd Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, has urged Ugandans not to give up the demand for a peaceful transition of power and fight for a better Uganda.
Besigye told his supporters that there is a political and socio-economic crisis in the country which requires Ugandans to reclaim their country through a transition before it falls in the hands of the foreigners.
He made the remarks on Monday during the launch of the People’s Front for Transition (PFT) politically known as the Front Red Card at Capricorn Hotel grounds in Bushenyi District.
It should be recalled that the Red Card Front leadership has been on a three days visit in western Uganda to spread the gospel of the front and peaceful means to remove Museveni’s government.
Speaking to the congregation, Dr. Besigye decried the levels of poverty that is eating up western Uganda despite claims by other regions that western Uganda is more developed than the rest of the regions.
“Even though you have heard from other speakers from Northern Uganda that there are no longer grass thatched houses in this region, I am greatly displeased with the grinding poverty faced by many households in western Uganda. In my village alone, I found people have gone back to early days of fetching fire in the neighborhoods because they do not have money to buy matchboxes,” says Dr. Kizza Besiggye.
He implored the people of Bushenyi who are held captive in their own land to embrace the Red Card struggle against Museveni rule and not through an election.
Besigye disclosed that he has been receiving calls from several people asking him to enter into roundtable talks with President Museveni on a peaceful transition but said that like the colonial masters, Museveni cannot be removed through negotiations.
“Many people are asking me to negotiate with Mr. Museveni on a peaceful transition and beg him to stepdown, but he will not see this. Colonialists were here for over 70yrs, why didn’t we negotiate with them to leave? The only mean to a peaceful transition when the constitution has been twisted is the captive to join the struggle for a fundamental change,” Besigye said.
“We need to embrace the struggle to end dictatorship, return power to people where you can choose your own servant leaders through an election. This will be the first time for Uganda to witness a peaceful transition of power.”
He further hailed Mzee William Mikaira, 92 yrs, founder of Valley University of being a patriot and championing the call for fundamental change in western Uganda.
The launch was attended by among other notable dignitaries, Ken Lukyamuzi aka the man, president of the Conservative party CP, Buhweju county MP Mwijukye Francis, the Front Chairperson Western Chapter Hon. Virginia Plan Mugyenyi, among other leaders of the front.
The front leadership led by their national chairman, Dr. Kizza Besigye will this evening be hosted on 92.2 BFM Radio in Bushenyi to give more highlights on the front.