Besigye sets big challenge to NRM
Oct 30, 2005
THE return of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col Dr Kizza Besigye, who has for the last four years lived in exile in South Africa, has given a new momentum to the otherwise sluggish national politics. Judging from the 2001 presidential elections, Besigye no doubt poses a serious challenge
By John Kakande
THE return of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col Dr Kizza Besigye, who has for the last four years lived in exile in South Africa, has given a new momentum to the otherwise sluggish national politics. Judging from the 2001 presidential elections, Besigye no doubt poses a serious challenge to the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Besigye’s return is a positive political development. First, I believe it was damaging to the country for the president’s foe to stay in exile. This implied, rightly or wrongly, that the government was persecuting political opponents and forcing them to flee into exile. It thus sent out a message that the country lacked democracy.
Secondly, Besigye’s return is testimony that he is committed to pursuing his political goals through constitutional and peaceful means. Besigye would not have returned to the country if he wasn’t interested in using constitutional means to advance his political agenda.
His return should give confidence to other Ugandans in exile such as Maj Okwir Rabwoni to do the same. Government, in line with President Museveni’s recent call for reconciliation, should also grant blanket amnesty to army officers such as Lt Col Samson Mande, Col Edson Muzoora and Lt Col Anthony Kyakabaale to return home. This would enhance peace and political stability.
There was speculation fuelled by reports in sections of the media that Besigye would be arrested on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. The government has persistently implicated Besigye in activities of the shadowy People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group and has to date not ruled out the possibility that Besigye could face criminal prosecution.
Besigye has vehemently denied involvement in rebellion and many, including the diplomatic community in Kampala, were interested in his return given these allegations. It is encouraging to see that Besigye’s welcome ceremony, which climaxed with a well-publicized public rally at Kololo airstrip, went on without interruption from the security agencies.
It would have been a blunder to arrest Besigye or subject him to questioning. It was remarkable also that the Electoral Commission agreed to a special arrangement for Besigye and his wife, Winnie Byanyima, to register as voters hours after they jetted in. Thus the accusation that the Electoral Commission had conspired with the government to exclude Besigye from the elections was proved false.
Judging from his statements, Besigye returned prepared to contest as candidate in forthcoming 2006 presidential elections and was subsequently elected as FDC president on Saturday at the party Delegates Conference held at Namboole stadium. This in effect makes him the FDC presidential candidate in the March polls.
Does Besigye’s return and election as the FDC president imply that the issue of a joint opposition candidate is settled? I don’t think so.
Although he appears to be the frontrunner among opposition presidential aspirants, Besigye is not the automatic opposition candidate. With the revival of fully-fledged multiparty politics, it is going to be very difficult for the mainstream opposition – the six main political parties (G6)- to agree on a single presidential candidate. True, the G6 agree in principle on the need to field a joint candidate. But choosing the candidate will be extremely difficult and will involve hard bargaining and compromises.
Evidently, each of the three biggest opposition parties – FDC, DP and UPC – will seek to field its member to become the joint opposition candidate in order to avoid being ‘swallowed’ by the other parties. It has been argued, for instance, that Paul Ssemogerere’s decision to support Besigye in 2001 presidential elections weakened DP. Some party supporters ended up remaining in Reform Agenda permanently and, subsequently, in FDC.
Most leaders from G6 parties were not at the airport or Kololo for Besigye’s grand homecoming. The message they probably wanted to send out was that they did not regard Besigye as the de facto opposition leader!
jkakande@newvision.co.ug
THE return of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col Dr Kizza Besigye, who has for the last four years lived in exile in South Africa, has given a new momentum to the otherwise sluggish national politics. Judging from the 2001 presidential elections, Besigye no doubt poses a serious challenge to the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Besigye’s return is a positive political development. First, I believe it was damaging to the country for the president’s foe to stay in exile. This implied, rightly or wrongly, that the government was persecuting political opponents and forcing them to flee into exile. It thus sent out a message that the country lacked democracy.
Secondly, Besigye’s return is testimony that he is committed to pursuing his political goals through constitutional and peaceful means. Besigye would not have returned to the country if he wasn’t interested in using constitutional means to advance his political agenda.
His return should give confidence to other Ugandans in exile such as Maj Okwir Rabwoni to do the same. Government, in line with President Museveni’s recent call for reconciliation, should also grant blanket amnesty to army officers such as Lt Col Samson Mande, Col Edson Muzoora and Lt Col Anthony Kyakabaale to return home. This would enhance peace and political stability.
There was speculation fuelled by reports in sections of the media that Besigye would be arrested on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. The government has persistently implicated Besigye in activities of the shadowy People’s Redemption Army (PRA) rebel group and has to date not ruled out the possibility that Besigye could face criminal prosecution.
Besigye has vehemently denied involvement in rebellion and many, including the diplomatic community in Kampala, were interested in his return given these allegations. It is encouraging to see that Besigye’s welcome ceremony, which climaxed with a well-publicized public rally at Kololo airstrip, went on without interruption from the security agencies.
It would have been a blunder to arrest Besigye or subject him to questioning. It was remarkable also that the Electoral Commission agreed to a special arrangement for Besigye and his wife, Winnie Byanyima, to register as voters hours after they jetted in. Thus the accusation that the Electoral Commission had conspired with the government to exclude Besigye from the elections was proved false.
Judging from his statements, Besigye returned prepared to contest as candidate in forthcoming 2006 presidential elections and was subsequently elected as FDC president on Saturday at the party Delegates Conference held at Namboole stadium. This in effect makes him the FDC presidential candidate in the March polls.
Does Besigye’s return and election as the FDC president imply that the issue of a joint opposition candidate is settled? I don’t think so.
Although he appears to be the frontrunner among opposition presidential aspirants, Besigye is not the automatic opposition candidate. With the revival of fully-fledged multiparty politics, it is going to be very difficult for the mainstream opposition – the six main political parties (G6)- to agree on a single presidential candidate. True, the G6 agree in principle on the need to field a joint candidate. But choosing the candidate will be extremely difficult and will involve hard bargaining and compromises.
Evidently, each of the three biggest opposition parties – FDC, DP and UPC – will seek to field its member to become the joint opposition candidate in order to avoid being ‘swallowed’ by the other parties. It has been argued, for instance, that Paul Ssemogerere’s decision to support Besigye in 2001 presidential elections weakened DP. Some party supporters ended up remaining in Reform Agenda permanently and, subsequently, in FDC.
Most leaders from G6 parties were not at the airport or Kololo for Besigye’s grand homecoming. The message they probably wanted to send out was that they did not regard Besigye as the de facto opposition leader!
jkakande@newvision.co.ug