Hostile FM callers overwhelm Besigye

By Vision Reporter PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Rtd Col. Kiiza Besigye on Friday night met a hostile audience while on a campaign programme on Greater African Radio in Mbarara. The programme, "Guest Special," was aired at 10:00pm and moderated by Sam Lwanga and Gaaja Bajurizi. The Director, Dr. Nkahumayo Rwakihinika, said yesterday that Besigye received a hostile reception and left the studios, leaving out the extra two hours, which had been paid for by one of his supporters. "Somebody paid the Radio sh1.6m so that he could have extra two hours. He didn't want to take the extra two hours. There were very many unfavourable calls. He was either tired or was not performing on turbo charge. He wasn't playing at 100% and he was a bit subdued," Nkamuhayo said yesterday. He said Besigye was not prepared for the amount of attention or level of debate he got. He said when Besigye left the studios, "it looked to the audience that he had run away." Callers expressed dissatisfaction with Besigye, saying he had betrayed the Movement by re-igniting sectarian tendencies in western Uganda. There were between 60-70 callers, most of whom concentrated on personal attacks, including questioning his health. A source said, "Besigye abandoned the studio barely an hour into the programme after refusing to answer questions on the purchase of junk helicopters, his health and an alleged campaign contribution by Maj. Gen. Salim Saleh to Byanyima in the 1996 elections. The programme continued for another one hour after he had left. Callers wanted questions sent to him for answers. Caller: How do you expect to become president of a country when you are sick. We know you are sick? Besigye: I have been a doctor. I am a medical specialist with vast experience. I have treated everyone in the army. I am the one who treated the President and kept him going. I want to assure people here that I know AIDS is a concern to all of us, has killed a lot of people. I will deal with it. I know the Government has had a good open policy but we know that there are a lot of drugs for AIDS that keep people alive. Yet some people have been kept on taxpayers money and others have been neglected and left to die. This is a scandal. After answering this question there were seven questions on the same subject. Besigye arrived at the station 45 minutes late accompanied by his wife, Winnie Byanyima. A planned march from the town centre to the radio station which had been organised as a curtain raiser, flopped. A source said, "He entered the studio with his wife who directed his speech. Winnie had a hand in answering every question. She made notes as Besigye spoke until callers overwhelmed him with questions on his role in destroying the Movement, contribution to the bush war and personal attacks on President Museveni." Sources also said Byanyima didn't want her presence in the studios known. Besigye was asked what he was going to do to the rebels and he answered, "I will introduce good politics that Museveni has not done. Rebel groups are here because of bad politics. I do not support rebels." He was also asked why he could not step aside for somebody like Aggrey Awori. He replied, "Anybody can be President. Awori should stand and if elected, that is okay." Ends.