Besigye dismisses petition on his academic papers
Feb 05, 2006
FDC candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has described as laughable a petition seeking to disqualify him from the presidential race over forged academic papers.
By Fred Kayizzi
& Amlan Tumusiime
FDC candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has described as laughable a petition seeking to disqualify him from the presidential race over forged academic papers.
MP Moses Kizige’s petition says Besigye used someone else’s qualifications for admission to secondary school.
Speaking in Hoima yesterday, Besigye accused President Yoweri Museveni of engineering the petition which he said would fail.
Besigye, who roared with laughter, said his lawyers would handle the petition the way they have handled other cases.
“Ignore those reports and vote for me because I will not be removed from the race since I have all my papers from primary school to university,†he told a big rally at Hoima Boma ground.
Besigye first reacted to the matter during a talk-show on Radio Hoima FM on Saturday night. In the middle of the show, he said, “I have just received a call from my supporter in Kampala that they have petitioned against my academic qualifications. This is laughable because I have been a medical doctor for a long time and worked in their government for a long time.â€
“These are kicks of a dying horse. They have realised that they have no other option to fail me apart from removing me from the race. They now know things have worsened on their side,†he added.
Besigye was explaining the huddles he has gone through in the presidential race, including the criminal charges against him.
Besigye said soldiers had been deployed to destroy his posters across the country, especially in eastern Uganda. He said he would put up more posters.
On Sunday morning, Besigye attended prayers at the Bujumbura Cathedral, the headquarters of Hoima Catholic Diocese.
He addressed the congregation briefly, urging them to vote only honest and religious people.
Besigye was accompanied by East African Legislative Assembly member Yona Kanyomozi, FDC parliamentary candidate for Buyaga Tuterebuka Bamwenda and other FDC officials.
After church, Besigye addressed a rally in Hoima town and again spoke about the petition. He said Museveni had desperately resorted to the petition as the only way to remove him from the race after realising that he (Museveni) was losing all the court cases against him.
“I finished my Primary Leaving Examination 40 years ago but today somebody claims that somebody else sat for me. That is laughable. You can see how Museveni is like somebody who has fallen in the water and he is desperately trying to find a way of surviving,†he said.
Besigye said the February 23 polls had already been rigged. He said the NRM was using government organs to canvass support for Museveni. He cited the RDCs and the DISOs. He said the Electoral Commission was biased because it was working on Museveni’s wishes.
Besigye, who was on remand in Luzira Prison for about two months, said over 600 suspects arrested by Wembley were languishing there.
On Saturday, Besigye addressed rallies in Masindi before moving to Hoima, where he spent the night.
Sunday Vision reported that Kizige, the MP for Bugabula county, said Besigye used another person’s marks to join Kitante Senior Secondary School in 1969.
Kizige’s petition said Besigye used Warren Kiiza’s results, which is why he adopted the name. He said Warren Kiiza sat PLE in 1968 at Kinyansaano and yet Besigye had relocated to Mbarara Boys.
Ends
& Amlan Tumusiime
FDC candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has described as laughable a petition seeking to disqualify him from the presidential race over forged academic papers.
MP Moses Kizige’s petition says Besigye used someone else’s qualifications for admission to secondary school.
Speaking in Hoima yesterday, Besigye accused President Yoweri Museveni of engineering the petition which he said would fail.
Besigye, who roared with laughter, said his lawyers would handle the petition the way they have handled other cases.
“Ignore those reports and vote for me because I will not be removed from the race since I have all my papers from primary school to university,†he told a big rally at Hoima Boma ground.
Besigye first reacted to the matter during a talk-show on Radio Hoima FM on Saturday night. In the middle of the show, he said, “I have just received a call from my supporter in Kampala that they have petitioned against my academic qualifications. This is laughable because I have been a medical doctor for a long time and worked in their government for a long time.â€
“These are kicks of a dying horse. They have realised that they have no other option to fail me apart from removing me from the race. They now know things have worsened on their side,†he added.
Besigye was explaining the huddles he has gone through in the presidential race, including the criminal charges against him.
Besigye said soldiers had been deployed to destroy his posters across the country, especially in eastern Uganda. He said he would put up more posters.
On Sunday morning, Besigye attended prayers at the Bujumbura Cathedral, the headquarters of Hoima Catholic Diocese.
He addressed the congregation briefly, urging them to vote only honest and religious people.
Besigye was accompanied by East African Legislative Assembly member Yona Kanyomozi, FDC parliamentary candidate for Buyaga Tuterebuka Bamwenda and other FDC officials.
After church, Besigye addressed a rally in Hoima town and again spoke about the petition. He said Museveni had desperately resorted to the petition as the only way to remove him from the race after realising that he (Museveni) was losing all the court cases against him.
“I finished my Primary Leaving Examination 40 years ago but today somebody claims that somebody else sat for me. That is laughable. You can see how Museveni is like somebody who has fallen in the water and he is desperately trying to find a way of surviving,†he said.
Besigye said the February 23 polls had already been rigged. He said the NRM was using government organs to canvass support for Museveni. He cited the RDCs and the DISOs. He said the Electoral Commission was biased because it was working on Museveni’s wishes.
Besigye, who was on remand in Luzira Prison for about two months, said over 600 suspects arrested by Wembley were languishing there.
On Saturday, Besigye addressed rallies in Masindi before moving to Hoima, where he spent the night.
Sunday Vision reported that Kizige, the MP for Bugabula county, said Besigye used another person’s marks to join Kitante Senior Secondary School in 1969.
Kizige’s petition said Besigye used Warren Kiiza’s results, which is why he adopted the name. He said Warren Kiiza sat PLE in 1968 at Kinyansaano and yet Besigye had relocated to Mbarara Boys.
Ends