NRM dismiss Besigye’s ‘unfair’ remark as excuses for impending defeat
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye says he has been energized by the overwhelming turnout by supporters in Kampala on nomination day adding that they reinforce his determination to win by defiance and not compliance or conforming to the rules.
Besigye outlined a number of instances that showed he was standing up against a hostile system but one he nonetheless was ready to confront and defeat along with the people’s support.
A tough-talking Besigye described Dr. Badru Kiggundu’s Electoral Commission as Museveni’s ‘walking stick’. He decried the postponement of the nomination dates as a deliberate plot by the EC to accommodate the candidacy of President Museveni, who had not been designated by his NRM party back in October.
“When I complained, I was instead accused of having handed my request to EC’s Secretary rather than the (EC) chairman saying that the matter was being handled by the Chairman himself. And as a result that is the reason President Museveni was nominated ahead of me, ” Besigye complained.
“I am one of those who have tirelessly demanded for reforms in the Electoral Commission seeking to transform it into an independent institution. This is because it cannot deliver a free and fair election in the current form it is but it is president Museveni’s walking stick,” Besigye added.
Justifying defiance
The state of affairs, according to Besigye is justification for what he calls a defiance approach. He noted that it is impossible to comply with a system which serves the interests of one person instead of the masses.
“Ours is therefore a campaign of defiance rather than compliance,” Besigye explained adding that he intends to carry the message of liberation of the people so that they can take back their power from what he called a dictatorship.
Responding to Besigye’s tough talk, President Museveni’s former press secretary Tamale Mirundi accused Besigye of blackmailing the electoral commission.
Mirundi said: “If you are complaining that UNEB is corrupt, why then do you allow your children to participate in exams organized by them (UNEB).”
Mirundi further said that Besigye is simply trying to find excuses he will present after he is defeated in 2016 after the elections.
The Electoral Commission and the Police seemed less bothered by Besigye’s statement although some people equated it to sounding drums of violence ahead of the elections.
“Let’s wait for him on the campaign trail and see what he means by defiance. One thing I know is that he was handed the security and election guidelines requiring him to pursue a peaceful election process in which he is gong to participate,” said Police’s public relations officer Fred Enanga.
EC’s Deputy Spokesperson Paul Bukenya added: “Perhaps he is referring to another campaign. But if he is referring to the 2016 presidential elections, there are stipulated consequences in the election guidelines he signed on his nomination day. They will catch up with him,” Bukenya said.
On the other hand, President Museveni said he is not scared by any of his competitors. He accused Mbabazi of being a liar and master of intrigue.
Museveni said of Mbabazi’s Go Forward group: “Those people do not have a correct message and I am ready to counter lies peddled against me to expose those adversaries.”He added: “I don’t think there will be a tight race here because the people of Uganda will see the truth.”
During his nominations day speech, Museveni said he plans to focus on job creation and ensuring he completes major projects he started.
