By Patrick Jaramogi

FDC President Kizza Besigye wants Ugandan troops deployed in war-torn Somalia to be brought back home.

“As FDC, we opposed the deployment of UPDF in Somalia. There was no way they were going to keep peace when there is no peace in Somalia,” he said at the party’s weekly press briefing at Najjanankumbi yesterday.

“Rather than keeping peace they were sucked into civil war. There is ample evidence that the UPDF supplied arms to one of the warring factions and that is why we are saying they should return home.”

“They are involved in a civil war and that is why we are now seeing an element of food poisoning. That is what we call biological war-fare. FDC may not do much, but it is upon the parents of the soldiers who are dying in Somalia to come up and demonstrate,” he said.

However, the army has ruled out poisoning, describing the disease that has hit 40 soldiers so far as a strain of a bacterial, water-borne infection.

But Besigye, a medical doctor, said bacteria can be a form of poison. “Bad elements can put bacterial substances in your water and that is why we see only UPDF and Burundian troops affected and not Somalis.”

He lashed out at Ugandans for keeping quiet about sensitive issues. “Entebbe Airport has gone and Ugandans are just crying ‘mama nyabo’. Up to when shall we keep quiet? Even if President Museveni leaves and Besigye comes in but Ugandans don’t learn to oppose corruption, it will continue to thrive.”

Commenting on the Kampala City Council Bill before Parliament, Besigye said the takeover of Kampala city by the Government will only succeed if the Kampala residents are consulted.

“It appears the Government is keen on proceeding with the take-over of Kampala in an arrogant manner. These are critical issues that have fundamental constitutional biases,” he stated.

“The expansion of Kampala will involve re-demarcations of the new district boundaries. These districts must consult the population on this.”

Besigye pointed out that for Mpigi, Wakiso and Mukono districts, which are located in Buganda, it was important that the Mengo government endorsed the idea first.