FDC's Besigye backs religious leaders on term limits

By Patson Baraire

Forum for Democratic Change president Dr. Kizza Besigye has said that the religious leaders have a right to demand for restoration of the presidential term limits because their concern affects the people they lead spiritually.

Besigye was at Kanungu Broadcasting Services (KBS) FM in Kanungu district where he urged the people to “resist all efforts by the current regime to drag back the country into destruction.”

He said that it was important for persons of the Cardinal and Bishops to come out and talk strongly against the removal of term limits because the Christians they lead are the same people the government leads.

To him, an impact of bad governance will impact on the same people.

The FDC stalwart said that unlike in 2001 when he first told the people about the need to change the government, today the people are aware of the need to come out and demand for what belongs to them.

"In 1999 when i became critical of the government some people thought that it was a Besigye issue and distanced themselves from me but today many of them have openly come out to support my cause," he said.

The opposition leader explained that in all the by-elections held after the 2011 elections the ruling NRM has “lost miserably” including in areas like Luweero and Ankore sub-region where they previously held a strong presence.

 The FDC diehard sees this is an indication of how the NRM is falling apart.

Besigye, who is normally denied airtime to address the public on some radio stations used the opportunity at KBS FM which is owned by businessman James Musinguzi Garuga to condemn the current NRM government.

He talked of how the government curtailed the walk-to-work campaign which he said that had opened up many people’s eyes and are now able to defend for themselves.

He explained that being out of the FDC leadership will not deter him from advocating for change but will give him enough time to organize for the party that he helped found and ensure that that there is change in the country.

"Some people are worried that when Besigye leaves the FDC leadership, that will be the end but they are mistaken and it will actually give me more time to serve the party," Besigye said. 

He urged the people of Kanungu to continue pressing for the tarmaking of Rukungiri - Kanungu road because its plan was done a long time ago yet money was available.

Besigye said government was refusing to work on it in order to keep the area undeveloped.

"Who doesn't know that Kanungu is the home of the famous mountain gorilla and as such a good road is necessary for the area?"