Besigye warns exiled Sejusa against war
Oct 12, 2014
Former Forum for Democratic Change leader Col. Kizza Besigye has cautioned the exiled Gen. David Sejusa to abandon the bush war approach to oust the NRM government.
By Dismus Buregyeya
SSEMBABULE - Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Col. Kizza Besigye has cautioned the exiled Gen. David Sejusa to abandon the bush war approach to oust the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
“The bush war approach is risky and fatal. I advise Sejusa not to think about it. We all survived the bush war because of God, it is not the military war skill alone that made things happen,” he said.
Besigye made the remarks during the burial ceremony of Canon Simon Peter Bwajojo, 89, Sejusa’s father, at Bweyale village in Lugusulu sub-county, Ssembabule district on Thursday.
Accompanied by the embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, Besigye, said the bush war approach causes death of many people.
“Even President Yoweri Museveni knows it well. We almost lost the battle in 1983 when the late Oyite Ojok forces surrounded us, it is by God’s grace that we survived,” he said.
Besigye said it is unfair for the NRM government to leave Sejusa to suffer in exile after all the efforts and risks he took to bring it power.
“Sejusa did not steal or kill anyone. He just disagreed with the NRM government and President Museveni. Let’s learn to keep together even after getting conflicts. It’s normal and healthy,” he said.
Besigye told mourners that he met Sejusa two weeks back in London and he was hopeful that he will return home.
“We need to appreciate each other. It is painful that Sejusa cannot come here to bury his father. We live in a changing world. We must learn to love each other regardless of our differences,” he said.
Besigye regretted that government officials, UPDF Generals and ministers who served with Sejusa are scared of attending the burial ceremony after his fall-out with the NRM government. He said the people must pray for the nation to keep united.
Ssekikubo regretted that the NRM government did not send any condolence message to the family of Bwajojo.
“We must all know that we shall take the same path, death is inevitable. Let’s learn to bury our people even when we disagree with them, especially on political matters, otherwise it is a shame that key people have kept away from this burial,” he said.
true
Exiled Gen. David Sejusa pictured here in 2004 in Jinja. PHOTO/Enock Kakande
Exiled Gen. David Sejusa pictured here in 2004 in Jinja. PHOTO/Enock Kakande
In a family statement read by David Mushabe, they commended Dr. Violet Kajubiri the sister of President Yoweri Museveni for attending the burial.
Mushabe said many of their close friends in government feared to associate with Bwajojo in hospital and at the burial.
“If Dr. Kajubiri has come to attend the burial why should others see it as a bad thing? It is a strong sign of love she has for the family,” he said.
Catherine Bwajojo, the widow, told mourners that the family members do not bear any grudges with Museveni. She said the rift between the Government and Sejusa is regrettable.
She said they have always regarded Museveni as part of their family. She said Bwajojo and Museveni were close friends.
She dismissed allegations that their family rejected the financial support from Museveni to meet the costs and expenses of the deceased at Mulago Hospital where he died on Sunday.
In a four-page letter dated October 9, Sejusa said he was hurt that he could not bury his father because of the unfriendly political situation.
“Due to the nature of the politics in our country, I am unable to come to bid farewell to my father. I could have come for I believe God would protect me. I wanted a peaceful send-off not one where mourners would be teargassed or even shot at,” he said.
He said he buried his mother in 1978 when he was still in school and added that it hurts that he has failed to bury his father after working so hard for the nation. He said his father rang him six days before his death asking whether they would ever meet again.
“My father sounded weak, but strong in spirit. He wanted to see me before he dies,” he said in the letter that moved some mourners into tears.