Kizza Besigye campaigns in Masaka

Nov 01, 2010

FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr Kizza Besigye launched his campaign for the presidency in Masaka district with a bold message of hope.

By Henry Mukasa
& Ali Mambule


FORUM for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr Kizza Besigye launched his campaign for the presidency in Masaka district with a bold message of hope.

Besigye urging residents not to despair that change towards better governance was imminent.

“Be strong and determined to choose a better destiny. If you take a firm decision to vote out this regime, it will happen. It will go, and soon,” Besigye stated in Luganda.

“The gun cannot substitute the power of the people. President Museveni knows it better because he went to the bush with 27 guns and defeated Obote’s government with an army, more guns and money,” he explained.

Besigye, who is the Inter Party Cooperation (IPC) presidential candidate, said abject poverty, absence of drugs in health centres, poor quality education, high taxes, unemployment, disrespect for traditional leaders like the Kabaka, jigger infestation, corruption and tribalism can only be solved with regime change.

The IPC is a coalition comprising FDC, the Social Democratic Party, the Justice Forum, the Conservative Party and Ssuubi 2011, a pressure group.

“Presidents are supposed to be servants of the people. But when he (Museveni) comes here, you clap for him and say, ‘abeewo’ (let him stay-on as president); he then thinks he is the boss. Stay and do what? So that poverty and jigger infestation can continue?” Besigye remarked.

“Money is collected from the majority of Ugandans but benefits a few people; relatives, friends and in-laws. Shopkeepers are fighting with flies in their shops because there are no buyers of their rotting merchandise. People are poor and the youth are unemployed,” he pointed out.

Besigye said agriculture was not profiting farmers like it used to, pointing out that in Bunyoro and Kiboga a kilogramme of maize costs sh100: “You sell a bag of maize at sh10,000 and go to the shop and buy only three kilogrammes of sugar,” he said, causing laughter.

Besigye said when he takes government he will introduce the federal system of governance in the country.

He arrived at Lukaya shortly after 9:00am, and the former Katikkiro of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, introduced him to the residents.

He then began a long journey through the villages of Lwabenge and Bigasa sub-counties, addressing residents at various stopovers before addressing his first rally at Bukomansimbi.

He then travelled through Butenga, Buyoga, Misanvu, Kyabakuza, Kyakumpi and Nyendo before addressing a large rally at Masaka children’s park in Masaka municipality.

Besigye, who has stood twice and lost to President Yoweri Museveni on both occasions, said he was not bothered by taunts that the “tsunami” (giant wave) he promised had not swept away the incumbent.

Ssemwogerere said he retired prematurely because of the situation the country was in, the desecration of Buganda and the maltreatment of the Kabaka.

“That Kabaka should first ask someone called Ssabanyala to tour his kingdom? Have you ever heard about someone with that title before?” he asked as residents responded, “No.”

He waved a copy of the agreement his pressure group “Ssuubi 2011” had signed with the IPC. It promises federalism and return of Buganda’s expropriated properties, among other kingdom interest.

Justice Forum leader Hussein Kyanjo described Besigye as a strong-hearted, trustworthy man. He urged residents to be tough when guarding their votes and to punch whoever attempts to rig.

Also present were former Justice Forum leader Mohammed Mayanja Kibirige; MPs Erias Lukwago and Betty Nambooze and former Mengo ministers and Medard Seggona. Seggona said time was ripe for change, while Nambooze defended that coalition, saying it was a timely creation: “ Whoever is not seeing the situation is bad is living in pretence.”



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