Movement denies wooing Col Besigye

By Milton Olupot THE Movement Secretariat has denied wooing presidential aspirant Col.(Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye to step down for President Yoweri Museveni. Besigye's task force yesterday accused the Movement leaders of spreading rumours that Besigye was in discussion with the Movement to step down for Museveni. They said Besigye had no intention of doing so. The Movement Secretariat Director of Information and Public Relations, Ofwono Opondo, yesterday said, "This is a persistent false claim circulated by the Elect Kiiza Besigye task force in a bid to gain cheap popularity." He said, "The Movement Secretariat wishes to disassociate itself from the claims that the Movement wants Besigye to pull out of the race." "The Movement supporters and those of President Museveni's final presidential bid should ignore detractors and run to the grassroots to mobilise support," Ofwono said in a statement yesterday. "It is a known and established method of the Movement in the last 14 years in government to talk and negotiate with all its opponents for the benefit of the country. "The Movement has talked to and convinced many former supporters of Idi Amin, Milton Obote, Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa and numerous rebel groups or people in exile to return home and join the Government. "In fact, Presidential aspirant Hon. Aggrey Awori, MP Samia Bugwe North, Hon. Max Omeda, Hon. Brig. Moses Ali among others are in this category. Most of these leaders are today putting their honest effort to rebuild Uganda," he said. He said if anyone had approached Besigye, it would not be new. He said Besigye was free to pursue his presidential ambition and nobody in the Movement would stop him. Ends.