Besigye, Alaso disagree over poll boycott call

By Alfred Wandera

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) secretary general, Alice Alaso and former president Dr. Kizza Besigye have disagreed on the latter’s proposal to boycott next year's polls if government does not implement electoral and constitutional reforms in time.

Speaking with New Vision at his Kasangati home in Wakiso district, Besigye said he cannot participate in a sham election again, calling on Ugandans to demand for expeditious implementation of electoral reforms ahead of 2016 polls.

"We either have free and fair elections or no elections at all. My actions will be directed towards rallying support of citizens to take action to stop another sham election. We must take action to defy what the junta regime is trying to do," said Besigye.

However, Alaso, who is also Serere Woman MP, said Besigye's call for poll boycott does not represent FDC official position, adding that such a stand can only be reached by party's national delegates' conference.

"Boycotting the election makes the matters even worse. In Sudan, opposition boycotted elections but that did not stop President Omar Bashir from being the President. We are still operating young parties in Uganda and opposition does not have capacity to field candidates in all regions of the country, which is equivalent to boycott of polls in such areas, but that has not stopped those areas from having representatives. I don't buy Dr. Besigye's call for boycott of elections," said Alaso.