Red Pepper story annoys Col. Besigye

By Josephine Maseruka

THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Col. Kizza Besigye, is well and strong.

The Red Pepper yesterday reported that Besigye had been advised by doctors to scale down his political activities on health concerns.

The tabloid also asserted that Besigye had ceded some of his responsibilities to Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the FDC national mobiliser and that party members were worried because most of the top officials were sick.

Besigye, on phone to The New Vision, stated: “I cannot comment on reports by hopeless papers.”

The party spokesman, Wafula Oguttu, described the tabloid’s claims as ‘malicious fabrications.’

He explained that Besigye chaired a series of meetings this week.

“He was in his office on Monday although he did not attend the party press briefing. On Tuesday, he led a six-man delegation that met Commonwealth High Commissioners and in the afternoon, he chaired a steering committee for the central region.”

Wafula added that Besigye chaired the FDC National Executive Council and “as I speak now, he is heading for Mubende where he will address a rally tomorrow (Saturday).”

He, however, noted that Besigye had had a hectic programme.

When asked whether Besigye collapsed this week, Wafula broke into prolonged laughter and described the reports as malicious propaganda.

Wafula said FDC chairman Sulaiman Kiggundu was recovering in South Africa after an operation and that Musinguzi Garuga, the chief sponsor of the party, was on a medical leave in England.

A source said Musinguzi had throat cancer and had been operated on in South Africa.