Besigye: Don't compare me to Museveni

Dr. Kizza Besigye addressing a news conference. He was flanked by FDC leaders. PHOTO/Peter Busomoke

Former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has vehemently attacked those comparing him to President Yoweri Museveni as people devoid of reasoning.

"What is your say on the talk that Uganda is stuck with Museveni and Besigye; that just as Museveni has failed emergence of a credible leader who can succeed him even Besigye has failed the emergence of another face of the opposition by refusing to step aside?" a journalist asked in a press conference at Katonga Road in Nakasero

 Responding to a question, Besigye said: "I keep hearing that talk and it is propagated by Museveni's apologists. How can anyone say Besigye is a problem to Uganda when I control nothing? It is Museveni who is the problem because he controls guns through which he has forced himself on Ugandans. It is Museveni who says all the money is his and that the army is his. It is Museveni who says the oil is his," Besigye stated.

Explaining his case further, Besigye argued that whereas he handed over leadership of FDC to another person, Museveni has been the only leader of NRM since its inception 36 years ago.

"To even become a presidential candidate, I contest through a free and fair election. Museveni has never contested in his party to become a flag bearer. When Mbabazi tried to contest with him, you know how he treated him," he explained.

Besigye stated that what makes President Museveni the problem of Uganda is the use coercive means, use of state resources, institutions and terror to keep himself in power against the will of Ugandans.

At the same press conference Besigye declared that he has formed a Peoples Government whose mission is to promote and defend the will of the citizens.

But the Senior Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama disagreed with Besigye saying, "Besigye's utterances are utter nonsense. President Museveni has not forced himself on Ugandans. He subjects himself to elections and wins. Ugandans are tired of Besigye's song of claiming he was rigged when he cannot show any iota of evidence for that. FDC got less than 40 parliamentary seats out of 431 and less than 5% of local government seats. You cannot lose at all levels and expect to win the presidency."