By Dr. Kizza Besigye

3^rd January 2011

Dr. Besigye with FDC's Key symbol

Fellow Ugandans, allow me, on behalf of IPC, FDC, and on behalf of my own family, to extend to you a warm and heartfelt message of peace, goodwill, happiness and above all, hope of a better future as we enter 2011.

As we get into the New Year, let’s think about the oppressed, disease-ridden, fear-filled, hungry, and downtrodden people in our society as a result of the wasted years of the NRM regime.

Our suffering brothers and sisters that we think about today are not in the utterly objectionable situations they find themselves in because they are lazy, cursed, and or unfortunate.

And they do not wish to continue with the indignity of being forced by circumstances to accept the corrupt “brown envelope” handouts either.  Not at all!  For nearly a quarter of a century, they have been badly let down by the people at the very top of our socio-political structure who are supposed to be their servants.

Ugandans are naturally creative and resourceful people – and I am extremely proud of that!  But I am also very disappointed, ashamed in fact, that the State has not given our creative and resourceful brothers and sisters the only thing they need to work their way out of their predicaments using their God given talents.

All they need are “Opportunities”.  That is the single biggest thing that the leadership of this country has miserably failed to provide to Ugandans from all corners of the country.  And I should add that what a man has miserably failed to achieve in a quarter of a century, he can never achieve even if he were to be given another twenty five years.  Everywhere I have been in these campaigns so far, I have seen things that have grievously appalled me and emboldened by resolve to put a final stop to them.  We are now faced with, and must make very clear choices for 2011 and beyond.

We can choose to remain in debilitating poverty and the accompanying jiggers, we can choose to carry on with the unprecedented corruption and leave our children to die in hospitals that don’t have doctors and drugs, we can accept the indignity that our cultural leaders are being subjected to everyday, or we can say “enough is enough” and choose the ‘New Beginning for a Bright Future’ that I and IPC are offering.  It’s all in Your Hands!

Many of you have already made great sacrifices in pursuit of the ideals of freedoms and prosperity that we in IPC share with you.  We cannot thank you enough for your sacrifices. Robert F. Kennedy once said that each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (she) sends forth a tiny ripple of hope!

We know beyond any reasonable doubt that the vicious and bankrupt dictatorship in our country is gasping its last breath.  But we are not, and can never be complacent.  I ask you to stay the full course with us and make more sacrifices for future generations.

Find a moment and share the five key issues that an IPC government will tackle immediately we are sworn into office in 2011; recruit five new supporters and encourage each of them to also recruit five new supporters; this is your struggle for change, a struggle for a better and prosperous future for ALL; not just for those around State House as is the case under this uncaring government.  So I urge you to contribute 500shillings as often as you can to support your struggle for Change.

The finishing line is within sight, Change is Coming! God bless you all; God bless the Republic of Uganda in 2011 and beyond.

For God & My Country