Foreign powers are pushing for dialogue - Besigye

Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr. Kiiza Besigye on Monday moved to explain reports about proposed dialogue between him and President Yoweri Museveni.

Besigye said that he is not the one pressing for the dialogue but that it is "outside forces" in need of an audit of the 2016 elections, who need dialogue.

"The European community and other countries that were monitoring 2016 presidential elections are the ones who want an election audit because they witnessed what happened here during and after elections. Possibly they know who won the elections," he said.

Ofwono Opondo the government spokesperson over a fortnight ago dismissed talk by Besigye of dialogue as "political grandstanding and comedy".

Besigye added that international electoral monitors were not in the country for nothing they had a purpose which they want to fulfil.

"Before the monitors compiled their report about the elections, I was already in prison and you may wonder how a presidential candidate can be arrested before the results from one polling station are announced," he added.

Besigye made the remarks while paying funeral rights to the late Stephen Besigye, who was a strong supporter, at Maaya in Rukungiri Municipality.

Stephen Besigye succumbed to prostate cancer on 8th April at Nyakibale Hospital and was laid to rest on two days later at Maaya, his ancestral home.

Dr. Besigye did not attend the burial due to other commitments he had in other parts of the country.

"I want to assure those who have been with us in the struggle that this is time to reap what we sowed," he said.

Besigye urged mourners to be patient and wait for the election audit report.

He described the deceased as a strong man who said no wrong; "a typical Mukiga who said things as they were unlike other people who change now and then like chameleons".

"The likes of Besigye deserve to be recognized with medals for being very strong on what they know is right until the end," he said.