Reply To: Yoweri museveni origins in Rwanda

[Yoweri Museveni]

Opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye has ruled out the possibility of using arms to remove the government of president Museveni, saying a violent change of the statusquo does not necessarily lead to empowerment of citizens to determine their own destiny.

Besigye, who is on court bail after spending two months at Luzira prison on charges of treason, said, “Violence doesn’t cause the type of change that we want. The change we want is not just a change of government.”

“We want a change that will empower all our citizens,” said the former FDC presidential candidate while appearing on NBS Television on Wednesday morning.

Dr Besigye has for long been accused of quietly plotting to overthrow Museveni with the use of force or by dividing the armed forces, charges he denies.

However, the politician, who participated in the NRA guerrilla war that brought Museveni to power in 1986, says he has the potential to use guns to achieve his goals.

All the FDC stalwart lacks, he says, is the willingness to pursue the path of war.

“Museveni used violence which left half a million people dead; left hospitals, schools and commercial infrastructure destroyed. That is the option we don’t want to take,” said Besigye.

“Rebellion doesn’t deliver the results we want. We won the war but did not make people take charge of their country,” he assured.

Besigye also vowed not to abandon his defiance campaign.

“Defiance is my favoured course of action,” said Besigye, adding he would continue to mobilise people using a strategy that comprises three components – awareness, oganisaation and action.

“Because of our activism, that is why we say we have evidence we did not lose the election as Kiggundu (Electoral Commission boss) wanted the country to believe. We have evidence of that,” emphasised the FDC honcho.

P10

Regarding allegations that FDC intended to use P10 grassroots structure to instigate countrywide violence, Besigye said people have the right to organise themselves to achieve a common goal.

“It is our right. The regime was trying to say that P10 is recruitment for a rebellion. Nonsense. Ugandans have a right to organize themselves. That’s one of their fundamental rights.”

On his way forward in the wake of treason charges, Besigye said, “Politics is one of the most unpredictable things.”

He pointed to the possibility of the government’s collapse.

“Even as we are talking here, the regime can collapse. Every ingredient is there for the regime to collapse any time. But it can also hang on depending on what our actions are,” he observed.

“It can collapse on its own. The regime collapsing and people assuming power are two different things. This regime is so vulnerable, it can collapse any time. But that won’t give people power. People must be mentally alert; regain power and influence in their country; and leaders must act as servants not masters of the people.”