Besigye vows to return to register
Oct 09, 2005
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye (above), has vowed to return and register as a voter under the on-going photographic voter registration update due to end on October 28.
By Alex Ocen and
Dismus Buregyeya
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye (above), has vowed to return and register as a voter under the on-going photographic voter registration update due to end on October 28.
“I am soon coming to Uganda to register. The FDC headquarters in Kampala is working everything out for my return. I have already packed and when they say I should come back tomorrow, I will be in Kampala tomorrow,†said Besigye on Saturday on a phone-in talkshow on Radio Rhino FM.
Yesterday, Besigye phoned the Masaka-based Radio Equator during a similar talk-show and reiterated his plan to return.
Besigye said those who were thinking of stopping him from voting were daydreamers. He boasted that his return would be like Hurricane Katrina that hit the USA recently.
On the Lira-based Radio Rhino, Besigye gave his Independence Day celebration message to the people in the camps in the north. Joel Okao Tema was the programme host.
Besigye accused the government of conspiring with the Electoral Cmmission (EC) to de-register him. He said he had registered in the 2001 elections, which enabled him to contest for the presidency.
But EC chairman Badru Kiggundu, in a statement on Saturday, said the 2001 voters register that bore Besigye’s name was phased out and that the EC had since carried out fresh registration under the photographic voter registration and identification system to update the national register.
Asked about his security when he returns, Besigye said it was the duty of the EC to provide security for the voters including him.
He added that if it meant walking to the EC offices, he would do so to make sure that he is registered before the closing date.
“I am ready to stand as a candidate next year if my party (FDC) endorses me during the national delegates conference,†he said.
Besigye said he was ready to support any joint candidate fronted by the six main political parties (the G6).
“I am not power-hungry. Even if they bring Kibirige Mayanja of JEEMA, I will respect him as the lead candidate. The issue is to join efforts to get rid of the NRM,†Besigye said.
On the PRA rebel links, Besigye distanced himself from the rebel group saying that PRA was set up by government to scare the opposition He said that government was deliberately keeping the PRA suspects in jail for three years without trial due to lack of evidence.
Ends
Dismus Buregyeya
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye (above), has vowed to return and register as a voter under the on-going photographic voter registration update due to end on October 28.
“I am soon coming to Uganda to register. The FDC headquarters in Kampala is working everything out for my return. I have already packed and when they say I should come back tomorrow, I will be in Kampala tomorrow,†said Besigye on Saturday on a phone-in talkshow on Radio Rhino FM.
Yesterday, Besigye phoned the Masaka-based Radio Equator during a similar talk-show and reiterated his plan to return.
Besigye said those who were thinking of stopping him from voting were daydreamers. He boasted that his return would be like Hurricane Katrina that hit the USA recently.
On the Lira-based Radio Rhino, Besigye gave his Independence Day celebration message to the people in the camps in the north. Joel Okao Tema was the programme host.
Besigye accused the government of conspiring with the Electoral Cmmission (EC) to de-register him. He said he had registered in the 2001 elections, which enabled him to contest for the presidency.
But EC chairman Badru Kiggundu, in a statement on Saturday, said the 2001 voters register that bore Besigye’s name was phased out and that the EC had since carried out fresh registration under the photographic voter registration and identification system to update the national register.
Asked about his security when he returns, Besigye said it was the duty of the EC to provide security for the voters including him.
He added that if it meant walking to the EC offices, he would do so to make sure that he is registered before the closing date.
“I am ready to stand as a candidate next year if my party (FDC) endorses me during the national delegates conference,†he said.
Besigye said he was ready to support any joint candidate fronted by the six main political parties (the G6).
“I am not power-hungry. Even if they bring Kibirige Mayanja of JEEMA, I will respect him as the lead candidate. The issue is to join efforts to get rid of the NRM,†Besigye said.
On the PRA rebel links, Besigye distanced himself from the rebel group saying that PRA was set up by government to scare the opposition He said that government was deliberately keeping the PRA suspects in jail for three years without trial due to lack of evidence.
Ends