Amuriat, Birigwa for presidential party flag bearer, Besigye out

POLITICS|ELECTION WACTH

KAMPALA - The closing of  picking nomination forms for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for the party's presidential flag bearer clears the air on who is likely to hold the party flag ahead of 2021 general elections.

This automatically clears the air that the four-time presidential aspirant Col Dr. Kizza Besigye is not running.

The event concluded today at a colourful ceremony with two aspirants including; the party national chairman Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa and party president Patrick Amuriat.

The forms are supposed to be returned on August 25th and 26th.

"This is the day I have dreamt of. I stand before you by design. I thank all of you who have journeyed with me in my political success," he said shortly after picking nomination forms.

He attributed his confidence in politics and leadership to the former party leader, Besigye who he says molded and instilled confidence in him.

"We should journey together shoulder to shoulder and we shall succeed. The election I am going to be involved in is a war. No one will be allowed to molest our people. We are the blue people who will continue standing in all circumstances," he said.

Birigwa said he is going to fix the broken bones of Uganda. "Everything that we have is broken. We have a broken society, a broken economy and the health system. I am a bone healer. I have come to fix our broken nation," he said.

Besigye bows out

While addressing party members at the closure of the picking of the nomination forms, Besigye said he had taken a decision not to stand in the forthcoming election.

However, Besigye said he had opted to continue his liberation struggle through another plan.

He noted that he intends to concentrate on Plan B of defiance and the party flag bearer executes Plan A of elections.

Besigye explained that he intensively discussed the matter with the party leadership on his decision not to stand and to let him lead Plan B.

"I realised Plan B is quite wide and involved and needs time. All the plans are critical but plan B is more critical in weakening the regime. Plan B will be supporting Plan A fully.  All fighters can vote but not every voter can fight.  We are building a strong front for change," he added.

Besigye also recognised former FDC party leaders like Maj Gen. Mugisha Muntu and others who left the party for their contribution towards the struggle and putting the party where it is.

Chaos at FDC

Earlier on, there was a scuffle between the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) youth and officials after the latter tried to force Besigye to pick nomination forms.

Many party members turned up at the headquarters with hopes that Besigye was coming to pick nomination forms.

The youth went rowdy when the party spokesperson, Ssemujju Nganda instead invited Besigye to address the gathering and the aspiring candidates.

The youth immediately started shouting on top of their voices demanding Besigye to pick nomination forms before speaking to them. They carried placards with different messages: "We want Besigye, you are the only one, who have you left for us, you are the commander" among others.