By George Murumba

24^th Oct 2011:

Museveni: Is his hour of reckoning fast approaching?

Dr. Kizza Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party President who was placed under “house arrest” for the entire duration of the second phase of the ‘walk-to-work’ campaign last week, has warned President Museveni to stop thinking that he can perpetually use teargas and bullets to suppress the people’s yearning for freedom, democracy, and social justice.

Ugandans will soon say ‘enough is enough’

In an exclusive interview with Uganda Correspondent, one that was conducted amidst the high security tension at his Kasangati home, a virtual prison of sorts, the FDC leader said he is convinced more than ever before that Ugandans will soon say enough is enough.  Besigye’s reasoning is that he can clearly see that people are running out of patience with Museveni’s brutal oppression.

“…This is a contest between right and wrong, between freedom and repression, between justice and injustice.  Freedom is not negotiable.  Not now, not tomorrow.  The people of Uganda have had enough and they will soon say so emphatically.  That is when this government will finally realise that you cannot have power without legitimacy”, Besigye said.

A peep into Museveni’s political future

The FDC leader also predicted that when that time comes, even the security men who are harassing, killing, and suffocating Ugandans with teargas now will turn their backs on Museveni [like they did with Ben Ali, Mubarak, Gaddafi] and leave him to face the consequences of his atrocious actions alone.

“…How can a legitimate government stop its people from peacefully walking?  How can a legitimate government bring treason charges against people who are merely walking to work?  Why should they lock me up in my house without charge?  Today it’s Besigye, tomorrow it could be you.  That is why every single Ugandan across the country needs to rise up and peacefully assert their rights and freedoms”, Besigye said.

The FDC leader also predicted the end of Museveni’s and his overzealous cadres.  “…What they don’t seem to appreciate now is that when the hour of reckoning finally comes, they will be left alone to face the consequences of their atrocious actions like Ben Ali, Mubarak, and Gaddafi”, Besigye warned.

‘I will walk with or without walk-to-work’

Asked what he intends to do now that the government seems to have succeeded in frustrating his participation in the walk-to-work campaign, the FDC leader said he doesn’t need the walk-to-work campaign to exercise his fundamental right to walk to whatever destination he chooses.

“…Let’s get one thing straight.  This is struggle is not and has never been about Besigye.  I have just told you that it’s about the right of every Ugandan to exercise his or her right to peacefully, walk, protest, dissent, and demonstrate.  I am only one Ugandan among 33million and I certainly intend to assert my right to walk with or without the walk-to-work campaign”, Besigye vowed.

Govt reacts: Activists facing death for walking

Even though it has been severely criticised for its brutal suppression of fundamental human rights, the Uganda Police, and Inspector General Kale Kayihura in particular, has maintained his twisted lone view the walk-to-work campaign is not about exercising the right to walk but about an attempt to overthrow the government.

Indeed, in an unprecedented move that shocked the world last week, the government charged a number of walk-to-work activists with the offence of treason which attracts a death penalty upon conviction.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.