Sebaggala, DP endorse Col Besigye

Sebaggala, DP endorse Col Besigye By John Kakande THE Democratic Party (DP) and the former presidential aspirant, Hajji Nasser Sebaggala's camp, announced yesterday that they had made a deal with presidential candidate Colonel Dr Kizza Besigye and agreed to support his bid. DP leader Paul Ssemogerere and Sebaggala addressed a joint press conference at the party headquarters to announce the deal under which Besigye agreed, if elected, to lift the 14-year ban on political party activities and introduce federalism, among other things. A top member of the Besigye campaign task force yesterday said they would make a formal announcement soon. The press conference was also addressed by DP treasurer Ssebaana Kizito and attended by several DP national and district officials, including the acting secretary general, Damiano Lubega. Ssemogerere issued a circular to district party leaders, urging them to campaign for Besigye and prepare to play a major role in the 'Besigye government'. UYD officials. including the secretary general, Michael Mabikke, also attended, ending earlier speculation that the militant group had refused to endorse the Ssemogerere-Sebaggala-Besigye alliance. UYD members form the backbone of Sebaggala and DP's campaign network in the city and countrywide and played a major role in Ssemogerere's 1996 presidential election campaign. While the press conference went on at the City House office upstairs, Sebaggala's supporters carrying Besigye's posters jammed Duster Street right from Kampala Road to Luwum Street, blocking traffic. Some forced their way into the office. The supporters, who had matched with Sebaggala from his Bugolobi residence to the DP headquarters, chanted "Hajji agambye, akalulu tuwe Besigye (Hajji has asked us to vote for Besigye)." Ssemogerere said they had reached an 'agreement' with Besigye but denied reports that they had signed a memorandum of understanding. He said Besigye was a trustworthy person. Ssemogerere denounced presidential candidate Francis Bwengye, saying he was not a DP candidate. He said the party, by law, was not allowed to field a candidate and was "in spirit" supporting Besigye. Ssemogerere said they were backing Besigye for three reasons. "First, we believe that together we can neutralise the negative military factor in politics," he said. "Second, we believe that together we can minimize state-sponsored rigging and most important, that together we can defeat President Museveni and achieve common objectives consistent with our ideology and principles," Ssemogerere said. "We are confident that our cooperation with Col Dr Kizza Besigye will help drastically reduce the risk of the military factor, both in terms of violence and as a cover for election rigging," Ssemogerere said and alleged that in the 1980 and 1996 elections there was "state inspired rigging and violence against DP." "Given the past and prevailing political circumstances in the country, the party could not field its own candidate," he said. He added that DP reached an understanding with Besigye "on a wide range of reform measures." DP, Sebaggala and Besigye agreed to scrap Article 269 of the Constitution restricting political party activities. They also agreed that if Besigye is elected president, there would be constitutional reforms to cater for traditional and cultural institutions. Sebaggala said if Besigye is elected, multiparty politics will be introduced within a year. He said the next elections would also be on a competitive multiparty system. He said his job will be to canvass the support of the 95% Ugandans who are not educated. He said Besigye will concentrate on 5% of the population who are educated. Sebaggala warned that those who blocked his candidature would pay a high price. He also revealed that he would set up a task force to deal with any person who tries to destroy Besigye's posters in Kampala. Sebaggala urged his supporters countrywide to attend Besigye's rallies and give him morale. Ends.