Federalism is a must in Uganda; says Besigye
By Suleman Mugula
27th Sept 2010
File photo, Dr. Kizza Besigye in Paidha
Johannesburg: IPC presidential flag bearer Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is also the FDC party President, has declared that federalism is not negotiable. Here, we bring you excerpts from a courtesy report by Mr. Suleman Mugula done for Uganda Correspondent.
Dr. Besigye addressed a gathering of Ugandans on 18th Sept 2010 in Johannesburg-South Africa. “He was meticulous”, was how one pro-Mengo gentleman who attended the evening interaction of Ugandans with Dr. Besigye described it. Dr. Besigye opened his address by thanking all Ugandans in the Diaspora for their continued support for the struggle for democracy, human rights, and social justice in Uganda.
He then proceeded to update his audience on the latest political developments in the country especially as regards preparations for the forthcoming 2011 general Elections.
He also assured the audience that regardless of the setback of UPC’s withdrawal from the IPC, the alliance was growing stronger and all members are working hard to ensure that the IPC wins the 2011 elections decisively.
He added that, “…while all the parties agreed on the rejection of the Electoral Commission and on the need to mount campaigns against the EC until Mr. Museveni is forced to withdraw it, we could not agree on the boycott. Apart from the UPC, other parties agreed that boycotting the election would amount to giving Museveni a blank cheque especially if other political parties, regardless of their size, decide to participate”.
The major challenge, Dr. Besigye said, is not so much in convincing Ugandans to vote for change. It is in “…reaching out to them to remove the fear that the NRM regime has instilled in them and continues to instil in them”.
He also said the opposition has learnt its lessons from participating in Museveni’s flawed elections. Accoding to Besigye, the opposition is now “…better prepared to prevail even with the disgraced Electoral Commission. There is no way Museveni can garner anything remotely close to 50% of the national vote tally now”; Besigye reiterated.
While responding to a question from the audience, Dr Besigye also spelt out, as clearly as he could, FDC’s and IPC’s policy position on the question of federalism. He said “…federalism was not a debatable issue. Unless the people of Uganda change their minds, it is a must”.
The Odoki Commission, Besigye said, “…did a comprehensive job by seeking the views of Ugandans from all over the country and it found that 67% of all Ugandans supported federalism”.
He added that it would therefore be wrong for his government “…to stand in the way of the wishes of the people of Uganda as well as in the way of Buganda’s demands for what they call “Ebyaffe”.
Buganda, Besigye said, voted for federalism by nearly 100%. He then won thunderous applause from the audience when he said, “…as a person, as President of FDC, and as IPC flag bearer, I see no justice in denying the Baganda their properties. If the Indians were given theirs, then why can’t the Baganda be given theirs”?.
Read the first part of Dr. Besigye’s full address to Ugandans in Johannesburg-South Africa under the titled “Dr. Besigye’s Jburg Address: Part 1” in our “National” news section. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
