Besigye Attacks Museveni Over Army Role In Poll

By John Eremu PRESIDENTIAL candidate Col. Kizza Besigye has protested the deployment of the army to take charge of security during the electoral process. Besigye told journalists yesterday that the army could not be partial in the electoral process as some senior army officers have been openly campaigning for President Yoweri Museveni. He singled out Army Commander Maj. Gen. Jeje Odongo, Maj. Gen. Elly Tumwine, Brig. Henry Tumukunde, Brig. Kashaka, Maj. Bwende and Chief of Military Intelligence Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo. "It is against this background that I strongly protest President Museveni's decision to deploy the army to take over security of the election process," Besigye said at his campaign offices in Kampala. "This decision by the President is tantamount to candidate Museveni taking over control of the electoral exercise and giving himself the power to determine the final results," Besigye said. Museveni on Saturday announced the formation of a task force headed by the army commander to take control of internal security as a result of escalating violence in the run-up to the March 12 presidential elections. Museveni said the Police had failed to control the violence. But Besigye demanded that the Police remain in control of the exercise and that it should be the Police to invite support from the army whenever necessary after consultation with the candidates. He also demanded that suspected State House agents who reportedly attempted to tamper with voter register for Rukungiri and Bushenyi be charged in courts and media houses be allowed to announce the election results as they come from polling stations. He said the Electoral Commission should put an end to the smear campaign by Museveni's task force and declare whether it is in control of the electoral process or else the election is called off. Winnie Babihuga, the Rukungiri Woman MP, Louis Otika, the Elect Besigye task force co-ordinator, and Besigye's political assistant, James Opoka, attended the press conference at Besigye's Crest House office. Besigye and Babihuga narrated the Saturday clash in Rukungiri between their supporters and members of the Presidential Protection Unit which left one person dead. They decried the intimidation of their supporters by security agents but appealed to them to remain calm. Besigye read out a radio message purportedly from the 301 Brigade Commander addressed to the unit commander and Museveni, urging them to "be ready to kill the dangerous and poisonous snake spoiling their name." Besigye declined to disclose what he will do in case the Electoral Commission did not meet his conditions. Answering questions, he said he would drop out of the presidential race if Museveni accepted to implement his agenda. On what he would do if he lost the elections Besigye said: "I must assure you that for the time being I am not planning for any losing because there is nothing to show that we can lose." Ends