Tuesday January 12 is a memorial day in the history of Uganda’s opposition politics. Its a turning point in the opposition efforts towards causing a fundamental change, peace transition of power and a marking point to end the dictatorial rule of President Yoweru Kaguta Museveni which has stayed for over 30 yrs.
As polling dates draws nearer, top opposition presidential candidates; Patrick Oboi Amuriat (FDC), Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine (NUP) and Gen. Greg Mugisha Muntu Oyera (ANT) have convened in a joint press conference at hotel Africans Kampala and urged Ugandans to turn up in big numbers to cast their votes on Thursday January 14.
The Hotel Africana convention is according to the three presidential xandidates a first step to a “unity of purpose” in their effort to bring the 35 year old reign of incumbent President YK Museveni to an end.
During the joint conference, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate said that the Electoral Commission is obliged to ensure that the voting process is free and fair because they are united to expose any irregularities.
“I want to tell the EC that if they cannot organise a free and fair election, then they are a useless organisation,” Amuriat said.
The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate Gen Mugisha Muntu said that as candidates, they have done their part and now it is time for Ugandans to play their role in shaping a better future for their country.
Muntu said that the violence which has curtailed the campaigns has discouraged many Ugandans from participating in the voting but urged them not to give up at the last hour. He urged Ugandans to jointly safeguard their votes irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Regardless of what you see, let not all the problems you see around discourage you from going to the polling station. Go and cast your vote, guard it and leave the rest to us,” Muntu said.
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, candidate for the National Unity Platform, said that in Uganda contesting against Museveni is like committing a crime citing out the harassment he has suffered at the hands of security officers right from the day of his nomination.
He blamed the continued political unrests against candidates on the EC which has kept silent on whatever is happening.
“It is unfortunate that as all these things are happening, the EC is silent and instead blaming the victims,” Kyagulanyi said.
He implored his supporters to turn up and vote, use the lawful measures available to guard their vote despite warnings from Justice Simon Byabakama’ EC.
“Do not pay attention to Mr Byabakama’s illegal pronouncements. You’ll not be breaking any law by staying at the polling station,” Kyagulanyi said.
It should be recalled that the EC recently issued guidelines banning voters from staying at polling stations after casting their votes, use of cameras and mobile gadgets at the polling centres.
However, Kyagulanyi told his supporters to use cameras on their phones to take photos and videos of any irregularities and send to the UVote application which his party recently launched.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Kizza Besigye, the four times presidential candidate (FDC) and the People’s Government President noted that the opposition candidates have faced an unprecedented violence in their campaign trails which are ending today as compared to what he faced in the previous elections.
Like Amuriat, Muntu and Kyagulanyi, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye emphasized that Ugandans should vote for any opposition candidate of their choice, guard their votes in order to deny Museveni the required 51%.
“Some people get discouraged when they see the forces of change not presenting one person, but that should not be the issue. Everybody should cast and protect their votes,” Besigye said.
