By George Murumba

15^th Nov 2010

A famous Member of Parliament who subscribes to Museveni’s ruling NRM-O party has admitted that his party is very worried by Besigye’s popularity, Uganda Correspondent can reveal.

The controversial MP, known for his open mindedness, has on several occasions openly clashed with the leadership of his party over some of his party’s policy positions like the insistence to deploy UPDF soldiers to war torn Somalia.

Speaking to Uganda Correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the NRM before he is re-elected back into parliament, the Western Uganda MP said, “…let me tell you one thing.  Personally, I am very worried by Besigye’s growing popularity.  I would be very surprised if our leaders are ignoring Besigye.  If nothing is done and Besigye carries on like this, he will win this election”, the dry-lipped NRM MP said.

He also says the NRM now knows that Museveni has lost two very important voting blocks to Besigye.  These two voting blocks are Buganda and Bunyoro; both of which gave President Museveni overwhelming support in both the 2011 and 2006 elections.

“…Buganda and Bunyoro are gone, that much we know.  From what I see and hear, it will be a miracle if Mzee wins there again.  Western will still vote for Mzee but with a significantly reduced majority compared to 2006 because of the Mushega factor”, he said.

According to this MP, it is only Museveni who fully appreciates the Besigye threat.  Others don’t seem to get it.  “…That is why a lot of money has been powered into Teso, the north, and West Nile on Mzee’s orders.  All these are Besigye strongholds that Mzee must capture to retain power and he knows it.  If he fails, then he is gone”, said the MP.

Indeed, the political grapevine doing the rounds in Kampala has it that a panicking Museveni has already ordered his young brother Gen. Salim Saleh to pitch camp in West Nile with an obscene amount of money [possibly hundreds of millions of shillings] to literally “buy” support for his brother.

A few NRM functionaries don’t seem that worried.  In his reaction to Dr. Besigye’s October speech in Manchester-UK, Mr. Ofwono Opondo, the spokesperson for President Museveni’s 2011 election task force told Uganda Correspondent that “Besigye will be defeated in the open”

Ofwono Opondo also said he was confident that Museveni will win back the presidency by more than 50% of the vote.  END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.