Waning support in Arua worries Besigye

By Richard Drasimaku

Dr. Kizza Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change presidential aspirant has expressed concern over waning support for his party in Arua district, attributing it to loss of hope as a result of failed attempts to change the government in previous elections.

“Arua has always given me support right from 2001. Unfortunately the problem we want to solve is still there. This is why some of our people have lost hope and are now saying may be the devil will save them,” he said.

He also said confused leaders in opposition are sometimes compromised with money and given false promises to go and say that the National Resistance Movement is good, thereby drawing their followers into the NRM.

Besigye was addressing what one attendant described as “not a Dr. Besigye size crowd” at Arua Hill boma grounds on Monday. Kaps Hassan Fungaro was the only opposition MP from West Nile accompanying Besigye on his tour.

Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya who is also the national chairman of Besigye’s campaign task force was the first to take notice of the dip in support.

“The people in the East, the people in Bushenyi, Kigezi and Bunyoro seem to want change more than you people in the North. The last time I came here this field was full of people up to the road side, now, you seem to be in a comfort zone. Are you people really comfortable?” Ekanya asked.

Earlier, Besigye told delegates from all the eight West Nile districts at a consultative meeting at Pacific Hotel that the few achievements that the government has scored such as the tarmacking of the road and the Nyagak hydro power station was because of their previous opposition to the government.

Besigye criticised religious leaders for lining in front of the president to beg for handouts saying it is a loss of dignity.

He informed the delegates that in his next manifesto, he will propose a budgetary support for religious institutions in recognition of the crucial role they play in building families.