Thursday 10 October 2013

Besigye walks out of independence festival

President Museveni’s convoy drives past Dr Besigye (2ndR)and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (R) on their way to the Independence Day celebrations venue in Rukungiri District.

President Museveni’s convoy drives past Dr Besigye (2ndR)and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (R) on their way to the Independence Day celebrations venue in Rukungiri District yesterday . PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI 
By ALFRED TUMUSHABE & PEREZ RUMANZI

Posted  Thursday, October 10   2013 at  01:00
In Summary
Outside the stadium, security agents surrounded Dr Besigye, whom they then forcibly drove to his country home in neighbouring Rwakabengo village, about 500 metres away.

RUKUNGIRI
There was drama at the national Independence Day celebrations in Rukungiri District yesterday when opposition politicians walked out of the function, saying it had turned into a partisan event.
Leading the walk-out was former FDC president Kizza Besigye, who was accompanied by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Democratic Party vice president for the western region, Mr Imam Makumbi. Dr Besigye had arrived at the venue at about 11.50am, a few minutes after President Museveni and his counterpart Mozambican president Armando Guebuza, had taken their seats.
The presence of Dr Besigye at a national function presided over by President Museveni was a rare occurrence after the two men, former Bush War colleagues, fell out in 1999 when the former wrote a stinging critique of the NRM, accusing it of losing focus.
Since then, Dr Besigye, who was a personal physician to Mr Museveni, has thrice contested the national presidency and lost to the incumbent. When he got to the Rukungiri Stadium yesterday, Dr Besigye took a seat in a tent reserved for political party leaders. Donning a grey suit a and pale-blue neck-tie, Dr Besigye sat next to Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume, Mr Lukwago and Mr Makumbi, whom he engaged in conversation.
Events, however, turned dramatic when the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Ofwono Opondo, who is also the Uganda Media Centre boss, said Rukungiri residents had asked to host the function in order to show faith in the NRM government.
At this point, Dr Besigye and his team vacated their seats and marched out as security operatives trailed them closely. Outside the stadium, the security agents surrounded Dr Besigye, whom they then forcibly drove to his country home in neighbouring Rwakabengo Village, about 500 metres away.
When the Daily Monitor spoke to him later, Dr Besigye said: “We didn’t come to celebrate. There is nothing to celebrate. Uganda has not had independence. Fifty-one years and we don’t have power, freedom and justice. We had come to unite with our people and show our displeasure,” Dr Besigye said.
He said majority Ugandans were suffering as a small group in power enjoyed at the expense of most Ugandans.

Whereas Dr Besigye was driven to his home, FDC Women League leader Ingrid Turinawe was not so lucky—she was driven to nearby Ntungamo District where she was still being held by press time.
According to the police, whereas Ms Turinawe had accompanied Dr Besigye to the stadium, she remained outside mobilising residents to disorganise the function. She was arrested and driven to Ntungamo where she was still recording a statement by last evening, according to the deputy police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT KIZZA BESIGYE’S WALKING AWAY FROM INDEPENDENCE FETE
Siraje Rukoda (engineer):
“From year to year Museveni says the same thing. They were together in the bush for so long. Therefore, Besigye knows Museveni’s next move at all times. But Museveni also needs to learn to listen to Besigye because he knows the ordinary mans’ problems.
Brenda Namugo (Chef):
I think it’s bad upbringing of Besigye for him to harbour anger, bitterness even on a day where we all feel liberated. It’s disrespect to the President. Besigye should not have bothered to go and attend the ceremony in the first place. He completely had no reason to go there if it didn’t concern him.
William Mukwana (car painter):

Besigye and Museveni need to reconcile. Let them put their differences aside and move the country forward. Take a look at Kenya where Uhuru and Odinga moved hand in hand to attend the ceremony. The independence does not belong to NRM party but it’s for all citizens. What he (Besigye) did was wrong.
Alex Bagyiga (Businessman):
“To me these two have no respect for each other. I am sure Besigye went there to just prove a point to Museveni to show him that he still exists, that’s all. So at least Museveni recognised his presence and he made his point by walking away.


Vincent Zziwa (Driver):
“I think it was a free entry and exit place. One is free to walk in and out. Besigye probably had better things to do than sit and listen to Museveni. I support his walking out on the President.
Rachel Tumuhimbise (cloth designer):

“Museveni is very abusive when it comes to opposition members. He never makes a speech without abusing members of the opposition. I think Dr Besigye did the right thing to walk away.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

SOURCE: DAILY MONITOR