Besigye fond of shifting goalposts

OPINION

In 2000, Col Dr Kizza Besigye side by side with his wife, Eng. Winnie Byanyima, had promised to stand for the presidency in 2001 and if he won, rule for only one term.

However, Dr. Besigye who had run into self-exile in South Africa after he was allegedly linked to Col Samson Mandy of the People's Redemption Army and the late Lt Col Anthony Kyakabale, rushed back in 2005, to take over from Salaamu Musumba as leader of FDC and was even nominated while on remand in prion over treason, terrorism and other charges.

He lost it the second time and went to court and the ruling he got was not far different from that of 2001. That is why after a third attempt in 2011, he promised never to go to the courts of law.

He launched defiance, which started with walking to work, thinking that it could turn into an "Arab spring"-like revolt that had ousted leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya (with the support of NATO), demanding for a power-sharing arrangement under a government of national unity.

When l asked President Yoweri Museveni during a press conference in Rwakitura whether he was prepared to share power with Dr Kizza Besigye and the rest of the Opposition, his response was: "NRM won presidential, parliamentary and local government elections overwhelmingly and therefore cannot share power with the Opposition."

Two years, according to reliable sources inside Besigye's own camp then, some of them MPs, Besigye hosted a number of them at his Kasangati home, said that he would never stand against President Museveni again. He also said that he would not participate in any election unless fundamental constitutional and electoral reforms were made.

 His colleagues told them that since they stood a chance of winning parliament seats, they should continue standing and should have an alternative presidential candidate. By then Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago had been impeached and he was like a wounded buffalo.

Besigye suggested him as an alternative and he accepted, threatening to avenge for the impeachment which was nullified by court.

Besigye left the country and a section of opposition MPs shopped around and landed on Amama Mbabazi, who at the time Prime Minister and NRM secretary general, but wanted to compete with his master President Museveni.

They joined forces. No sooner had they formally allied to Amama Mbabazi's Go Forward pressure group, than Besigye rushed home, picked forms and stood for the presidency in 2016.

Talks with the Amama group under The Democratic Alliance (TDA) that involved even former UN secretary general Kofi Annan in London and here in Kampala, are well known.

After the elections which he lost, he attempted to form an alternative government and even was "sworn" in as a "People's President" but all that was to no avail as his colleagues, like as usual, who won their seats, rushed to Parliament and City Hall for swearing-in ceremonies.

Besigye suppressed alternative views from the likes of Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu until they left FDC and formed ANT yet on retirement as party president, Besigye had promised that his successor would be groomed as the flag-bearer, which he did not fulfil.

So, for a man who has a record of not keeping his promises, until the Independent Electoral Commission declares the closing of nominations and he has not picked and returned a nomination form, we cannot be sure that Besigye's plan B is not an empty threat just like in 2001 when he boasted of 90% of UPDF support.

The writer is a journalist and Communications Assistant with Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) at the Ministry of Information and National Guidance and Deputy Spokesperson, Office of National Chairperson Kyambogo