Besigye returns, registers
Oct 27, 2005
OPPOSITION leader and chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change Col Kizza Besigye flew back home from South Africa to a hero’s welcome yesterday, ending four years of exile.
By Felix Osike, Alfred Wasike and Wilfred Sanya
Col. Kizza Besigye was yesterday registered as a voter, ending speculation that he may not participate in the 2006 elections.
Besigye was registered at the FDC offices at Najjanankumbi at 4:00pm, seven hours after he arrived from South Africa where he had been living in exile for four years.
After registration, he drove in a long convoy to Kololo independence grounds where he addressed a big rally in the evening.
He arrived at the FDC office in an open-roof Toyota Land cruiser vehicle to a tumultuous welcome amid tight security.
Present were FDC heavyweights Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Garuga Musinguzi, Reagan Okumu, Odongo Otto, Dr. Munini Mulera, Sam Akaki, Jack Sabiti, Augustine Ruzindana, Wafula Oguttu and Beti Kamya.
According to Besigye’s registration number 12791437, he will vote from the southern ward in Rukungiri district. His wife Winnie Byanyima and the FDC UK external coordinator, Sam Akaki, were also registered.
Byanyima will vote from Mbarara municipality.
The Electoral Commission team was led by the Acting Head of Voter Registration, Charles Nsimbi, who was accompanied by Andrew Songa, an assistant election officer.
Nsimbi said the FDC officials invited them.
“It was a routine registration,†he said.
Besigye arrived at Entebbe International Airport at 9:10am aboard a Kenya Airways Boeing 737 flight number KQ 410.
Led by heavily armed mobile Police Patrol and the anti-riot Police, Besigye’s lengthy motorcade paralysed business on most of the Entebbe - Kampala highway.
Thousands of people gave him, his wife Winnie Byanyima and son Anselm a grand welcome at Kitoro, a kilometre from the airport. Others were sweeping the road for their leader.
Former spy chief David Pulkol and former kampala mayor Nasser sebaggala were in the convoy. Pulkol wriggled out of the left front window of his car and shouted, “This is the time for Yoweri to go, this is the time for Museveni to go,†as other supporters cheered him on.
The road to Entebbe was closed for some hours. Vehicles were diverted from Kibuye.
Besigye fled the country in 2001 citing political persecution.
He arrived just in time for the FDC delegates’ conference that starts tomorrow and ends on Saturday at Namboole Stadium. It is widely believed that Besigye will be the FDC presidential candidate unless it is decided otherwise.
At a press conference at the airport, Besigye said his return was aimed at working hard for a free and fair political dispensation.
“That is the system that we are risking our lives for, that we are struggling for and we are ready to die for,†he said.
Asked about his alleged involvement in rebel activities, he replied, “I have said several times that I have never conceived, involved myself in anyway whatsoever in any activities, that seek to use force against the established regime in Uganda today.â€
Besigye said Article 3 of the Constitution gives the right to every Ugandan, including the use of force, if the Constitution is abrogated or unfairly amended. He said while he was in exile, he was treated like any South African or person living legally in South Africa.
As Besigye addressed the press, six-year-old Anselm answered questions from some journalists.
Q: Do you think your father is going to be president?
Anselm: Of course.
Q: Why do you think he will be president?
Anselm: He is very popular.
Q: What about your mother?
Anselm: My mother is a very busy person.
On arrival, Anselm held a copy of the New Vision to show his parents yesterday’s lead story, “Police blocks Besigye fans from the Airport.†He whispered to his father, “I think it is not convenient for you to go and address those people outside.â€
Shortly after arrival, Besigye said, “I am glad to be back in Uganda after more than four years of living outside the country.â€
“I expect the regime to make serious reflections on its performance and undertake essential reforms, open space for everybody and release all political prisoners. I am looking for a free society,†Besigye said.
Flashing his trademark two-finger victory salute, a smiling Besigye acknowledged cheers from supporters carrying FDC posters and tree branches as his convoy snaked its way to Kampala.
The crowds either waved back in the FDC style or flashed the NRM’s thumbs up or the three finger sign to mean another term for President Yoweri Museveni or just stared at the passing entourage.
His open-roof Toyota Land Cruiser UAG 437Y was sandwiched by two Police escort vehicles.
The crowd burst into jubilation, honking car horns, blowing whistles and chanting, “President Besigye tumuleese,â€(We have brought President Besigye).
Besigye was dressed in a beige-coloured suit with an open-neck blue and white long-sleeved shirt.
Byanyima was in a light-blue African attire.
On arrival at Entebbe, Besigye was donned in a white, red, yellow and green sash.
A few supporters clad in FDC T-shirts waited outside the VIP lounge as he addressed the press
Police security around the airport was heightened. Airport workers and passengers also gathered outside the VIP lounge to see the man who was the runner-up in the 2001 presidential elections.
At Lido Beach near the airport, supporters stopped Besigye briefly as some soldiers at the military airbase dashed to the roadside to see him.
Besigye called for the release of all political detainees. “The political detainees are being held illegally. They have been in prison for three years. There is no law in Uganda under which anybody should be held for three years without trial.†(SEE FULL ADDRESS ON NATIONAL NEEWS PAGES)
Col. Kizza Besigye was yesterday registered as a voter, ending speculation that he may not participate in the 2006 elections.
Besigye was registered at the FDC offices at Najjanankumbi at 4:00pm, seven hours after he arrived from South Africa where he had been living in exile for four years.
After registration, he drove in a long convoy to Kololo independence grounds where he addressed a big rally in the evening.
He arrived at the FDC office in an open-roof Toyota Land cruiser vehicle to a tumultuous welcome amid tight security.
Present were FDC heavyweights Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Garuga Musinguzi, Reagan Okumu, Odongo Otto, Dr. Munini Mulera, Sam Akaki, Jack Sabiti, Augustine Ruzindana, Wafula Oguttu and Beti Kamya.
According to Besigye’s registration number 12791437, he will vote from the southern ward in Rukungiri district. His wife Winnie Byanyima and the FDC UK external coordinator, Sam Akaki, were also registered.
Byanyima will vote from Mbarara municipality.
The Electoral Commission team was led by the Acting Head of Voter Registration, Charles Nsimbi, who was accompanied by Andrew Songa, an assistant election officer.
Nsimbi said the FDC officials invited them.
“It was a routine registration,†he said.
Besigye arrived at Entebbe International Airport at 9:10am aboard a Kenya Airways Boeing 737 flight number KQ 410.
Led by heavily armed mobile Police Patrol and the anti-riot Police, Besigye’s lengthy motorcade paralysed business on most of the Entebbe - Kampala highway.
Thousands of people gave him, his wife Winnie Byanyima and son Anselm a grand welcome at Kitoro, a kilometre from the airport. Others were sweeping the road for their leader.
Former spy chief David Pulkol and former kampala mayor Nasser sebaggala were in the convoy. Pulkol wriggled out of the left front window of his car and shouted, “This is the time for Yoweri to go, this is the time for Museveni to go,†as other supporters cheered him on.
The road to Entebbe was closed for some hours. Vehicles were diverted from Kibuye.
Besigye fled the country in 2001 citing political persecution.
He arrived just in time for the FDC delegates’ conference that starts tomorrow and ends on Saturday at Namboole Stadium. It is widely believed that Besigye will be the FDC presidential candidate unless it is decided otherwise.
At a press conference at the airport, Besigye said his return was aimed at working hard for a free and fair political dispensation.
“That is the system that we are risking our lives for, that we are struggling for and we are ready to die for,†he said.
Asked about his alleged involvement in rebel activities, he replied, “I have said several times that I have never conceived, involved myself in anyway whatsoever in any activities, that seek to use force against the established regime in Uganda today.â€
Besigye said Article 3 of the Constitution gives the right to every Ugandan, including the use of force, if the Constitution is abrogated or unfairly amended. He said while he was in exile, he was treated like any South African or person living legally in South Africa.
As Besigye addressed the press, six-year-old Anselm answered questions from some journalists.
Q: Do you think your father is going to be president?
Anselm: Of course.
Q: Why do you think he will be president?
Anselm: He is very popular.
Q: What about your mother?
Anselm: My mother is a very busy person.
On arrival, Anselm held a copy of the New Vision to show his parents yesterday’s lead story, “Police blocks Besigye fans from the Airport.†He whispered to his father, “I think it is not convenient for you to go and address those people outside.â€
Shortly after arrival, Besigye said, “I am glad to be back in Uganda after more than four years of living outside the country.â€
“I expect the regime to make serious reflections on its performance and undertake essential reforms, open space for everybody and release all political prisoners. I am looking for a free society,†Besigye said.
Flashing his trademark two-finger victory salute, a smiling Besigye acknowledged cheers from supporters carrying FDC posters and tree branches as his convoy snaked its way to Kampala.
The crowds either waved back in the FDC style or flashed the NRM’s thumbs up or the three finger sign to mean another term for President Yoweri Museveni or just stared at the passing entourage.
His open-roof Toyota Land Cruiser UAG 437Y was sandwiched by two Police escort vehicles.
The crowd burst into jubilation, honking car horns, blowing whistles and chanting, “President Besigye tumuleese,â€(We have brought President Besigye).
Besigye was dressed in a beige-coloured suit with an open-neck blue and white long-sleeved shirt.
Byanyima was in a light-blue African attire.
On arrival at Entebbe, Besigye was donned in a white, red, yellow and green sash.
A few supporters clad in FDC T-shirts waited outside the VIP lounge as he addressed the press
Police security around the airport was heightened. Airport workers and passengers also gathered outside the VIP lounge to see the man who was the runner-up in the 2001 presidential elections.
At Lido Beach near the airport, supporters stopped Besigye briefly as some soldiers at the military airbase dashed to the roadside to see him.
Besigye called for the release of all political detainees. “The political detainees are being held illegally. They have been in prison for three years. There is no law in Uganda under which anybody should be held for three years without trial.†(SEE FULL ADDRESS ON NATIONAL NEEWS PAGES)