Besigye Disowns Rebel Colonels

By Hamis Kaheru FORMER presidential candidate Col Kizza Besigye has denied links with UPDF renegades, Lt. Col. Anthony Kyakabale and Lt. Col. Samson Mande, who declared war against the Government last week. "I would like to categorically state that I have absolutely no knowledge of any person or groups of persons involved in rebellion or breach of peace in this country," Besigye told a press conference in Kampala yesterday. Buganda's local government minister Kamala Kanamwangi attended the press conference. President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday challenged Besigye to denounce the two army officers and other renegades who were involved in his campaign. But Besigye said it was wrong to associate him with Kyakabale merely because he campaigned for him. "Kyakabale was with Museveni in 1980. Museveni has definitely known him longer and better than myself. Definitely he has campaigned for Museveni before. Does that mean that Museveni is a terrorist?" he said. He added, "When Museveni organised the attack on Kabamba in 1981, how many of his friends knew. Did he even tell his wife?" Besigye said there was a deliberate and consistent attempt to frame him so as to arrest and do away with a political opponent. "I fear tremendously for my life because those acting against me are the people who are supposed to be my protection," he said. He warned that rebellions would continue in Uganda even without his blessing as long as the Government continued violating people's rights. He said he had no plans of fighting Obote until 1981 when he was detained and tortured for three months. "In other words governments recruit people in rebellions," he said. He said he was happy about his wife, Winnie Byanyima's victory in Mbarara Municipality. "I am now waiting for Museveni to relinquish the constituency which he was claiming to be representing. I am sure he has now been thrown out," he said. Besigye said he was writing another paper about the democratisation process, which he intended to present to the Government and Parliament for discussion. He said the paper will suggest the way forward for the country. Besigye's problems with the Government started in 1999 when he circulated a paper in which he said the Movement had been derailed by its leadership. He refused to apologise. Ends