{UAH} DR. BESIGYE SHOWED LACK OF DIPLOMACY

On 9th October 2013, Uganda celebrated her 51st Independence anniversary. The national celebration took place in Rukungiri District. The reason why Rukungiri was selected to host the national celebration is because of the contribution of the people of Rukungiri towards the independence struggle and other liberation struggles in Uganda.

So many selfless nationalists and patriots had been selected to receive various medals for their contribution towards the liberation and development of our Country. Dr. Besigye was among those to be awarded for his contribution towards the NRM/NRA struggle of 1981-1986. Dr. Besigye joined the NRA bush war in 1983. He was very instrumental in providing medical services to the guerillas. After the bush war in 1986, Dr. Besigye held various key positions in the government including but not limited to; Minister of State in-charge of Presidency. The position he was appointed to at the age of 29 years. He was the youngest in the post guerilla NRA government cabinet. He later became the National Political Commissar (NPC) of the Movement government. He later served as the Commander of the Mechanised Brigade of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) based in Masaka District.

For the first time since falling out with the current government in 1999, and having stood three times against his former master but with no luck and success at all, Dr. Besigye attended the national celebration on the ground that it was held in his home area. However, Dr. Besigye didn't live to see the end of the function. He chose to miss the two most critical items on the day's programme i.e. awarding of medals, and the speech by the Head of State. Rumours say that Dr. Besigye was provoked by the words of the Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, Mr. Ofwono Opondo who as the Master of Ceremonies of the day said that the people of Rukungiri had requested for the celebration to take place in their district in order to affirm their commitment to President Museveni and NRM. This could have been true.

However, for Dr. Besigye to have walked out of the function was uncalled for, barbaric, out of order and an act of disrespect of the present Heads of State. It was also great contempt of the Uganda People's Defence Forces Medals Committee, security forces, diplomats, dignitaries, delegates and all Ugandans present at the function.

This act proved the kind of President Dr. Besigye would make. He would make a President who can walk out of the United Nations or African Union General Assemblies simply because he disagrees with one member. He would also make a President who is intolerant and unable to listen to dissenting views. This would probably cripple Uganda's diplomatic relations and our Country would perhaps be at war all the time. Therefore Ugandans must be aware of the character and personality of Dr. Besigye and must whatsoever at any time not give him a chance to lead this Country.

 

Duncan Abigaba

Kampala, Uganda.