2011 UGANDA ELECTIONS: Dr Besigye for president

Forum for Democratic Change’s Dr Kizza Besigye after being nominated for presidential elections in Kampala Monday Sept, 25. He is challenging incumbent President Yoweri Museveni who is seeking to extend his rule to over 30 years. Mr Museveni is flag bearer for the ruling National Resistance Movement. Photo by Stephen Wandera 

By Sheila Naturinda & Emmanuel Mulondo  (email the author)

As nominations for presidential candidates rolled on early yesterday afternoon, retiring Kyadondo North MP and FDC National Chairman, Sam Njuba caused a stir when he handed a copy of ‘The Correct Line;’ ‘Uganda under Museveni’, a book authored by Dr Kizza Besigye’s sister Dr Olive Kobusingye, to the Electoral Commission’s chief.

Distribution of this book, which chronicles various promises on good governance and respect for human rights and the rule of law which President Yoweri Museveni has made to the country, but which promises have since been broken, was initially blocked by the government. Internal Affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja at one point told Parliament that the book was being held because it had “security connotations”.

“Read it, Mr Chairman. There are interesting things about Uganda,” Mr Njuba told Dr Kiggundu as he handed over the text which was only last week released to its author.

Taking the suggestion in stride, Dr Kiggundu retorted: “I will read it. It is my hobby to read.”

Dr Besigye had just been declared nominated as the third candidate in the race for president in elections which take place in February 2011.

His nomination was proposed by Ms Martha Atiku, a member of the Forum for Democratic Change national executive committee, and seconded by former Buganda Kingdom prime minister (katikkiro) Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere as he sat calmly alongside Mr Dan Mugarura, who chairs his party’s elections department.

“In 2006, we nominated a picture. I am happy today we are nominating him physically. This is our biggest achievement in five years,” Ms Salaamu Musumba, FDC vice president, said soon after nomination.

In 2006, Dr Besigye was arrested on returning from exile in South Africa. But his party still got him nominated while he was on remand in Kampala’s Luzira Prison amidst strong opposition from Attorney General Khidu Makubuya who claimed that he was not on the same level of innocence as the other candidates. Then, the government accused the opposition leader who had ran for president in 2001 of treason in a case which was only dismissed early this month.

Dr Besigye’s team of more than 20 supporters included MPs Cecilia Ogwal, Alice Alaso, Micheal Mabikke and Francis Epetait. Others were Conservative Party president Ken Lukyamuzi, his deputy Elis Grace Ssebina, Patrick Baguma. CP is one of the four-party Inter-Party Cooperation alliance which includes the FDC, Social Democratic Party and Justice Forum (Jeema).

Others were; Anne Mugisha, Joyce Ssebugwawo, Kibirige Mayanja, Wafula Oguttu, Maj Rubaramira Ruranga, Ms Nulu Ssuka, Wandera Ogalo and Ibrahim Ssemujju.

Like all other nominated candidates, Dr Besigye received a peace flag from former electoral commissioner Haji Gannyana Miiro, who urged the candidate to practice and preach the gospel of peace during and after the campaign period and elections.

Addressing journalists soon after nomination, Dr Besigye did not mince his words against the EC. “We know we are participating in an inherently flawed election.”

He also said his wasn’t a coalition of parties that form IPC, but a cooperation because they all believed in one message of change. “I respect (Democratic Party leader and candidate Nobert) Mao. I would have loved to work with him but he has a choice of whom he wants to associate with,” he said.

Dr Besigye, who would later address a rally at Nakivubo War memorial Stadium, said his key campaign issues will revolve around the need to transform the governance of the country.

President Museveni, Mr Bidandi Ssali and Mr Norbert Mao were all scheduled to address their first rallies this afternoon.

Source: Daily Monitor, Posted Monday, October 25 2010 at 12:47