Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has described 2016 as a terrible year in his first press conference of 2017 and vowed to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s NRM government.
Dr Besigye, a former doctor to Mr Museveni, has unsuccessfully challenged him four times and was in the space of five years arrested 39 times for political activities as well as being repeatedly beaten and tear gassed.
Dr Besigye who in February 2016 lost the presidential election to his bitter rival Mr Museveni said last year was a year to forget, adding that Dr Badru Kiggundu’s headed electoral commission was “impotent” to organise a credible election and today said he had formed his own government but without naming how and with whom.
He was detained frequently during the last election and was held under house arrest for more than a month afterwards. He claimed that he won the poll with 52 per cent of the vote and called for an independent audit.
At the Monday’s press briefing held at the at Dr Besigye’s office along Katonga road in Kampala, the Forum for Democratic Change founding president was flanked by key opposition leaders including Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa, Ingrid Turinawe, Wafula Oguttu among others.
Mr Besigye urged his supporters to continue supporting his political defiance campaign saying.
“In 2016 the people of Uganda voted for change but the dictatorship overthrew their will.”
Besigye used the press conference to declare that he had formed a “people’s government” and encouraged his supporters to be part of the network.
“Am extremely excited about the change I see among Ugandans. We need a new set of leaders who are fully committed and not ready to let the dictatorship force its supremacy over them.”
“The leaders we have now are simply trained to maintain the regime status quo and trained to be Museveni’s servants so that is the mindset we as the opposition are fighting to change.”
“We have undertaken non-violent action that will weaken the regime further. The people’s government you hear about is real. We will continue working until the people’s will is realised.”
“No force can overwhelm the will of the people if they’re better organised. If our farmers retained their food in their houses, even the most armed regime would starve so if similar actions are well coordinated and implemented they will overpower even the most armed dictatorship.”
“Like I told you before, state propagandists are working hard to weaken our defiance movement.”
“Over the Christmas period I was meeting people who were excited that incoming US President Donald Trump is about to be sworn in and will help Ugandans remove Mr Museveni from power but I told them that would be a bad thing because Trump will not save Uganda and even still the country would then be in his hands not ours. No one will save Uganda apart from ourselves and I’m glad people have started to realise that.”
Dr Besigye said that his government is already working in all districts across the country and urged his supporters to identify with it as they remain vigilant.
“I call upon all Ugandans to become participants in our government because there is nothing illegal with our things.”
“People should not be scared because the regime is using heinous crimes and fear to terrorise people like recently in Kasese where they (Museveni government) killed people and piled bodies. We should also invite the international scrutiny because we are not a country in isolation.”
“We have never been this optimistic as we are about the impending change in our country’s leadership though it may take take a little longer but we are steadfast and focused.”
Mr Besigye concluded by promising that 2017 is a year of non-reversible change adding that thereafter, Ugandans will be walking with a swagger-a line he concluded with during the residential debate last year.
Dr Besigye has for the past 15 years rallied Ugandans to support his cause but his supporters are yet to catapult him into State House.
