{UAH} Why I walked out of Independence fete

Why I walked out of Independence fete

Dr Kizza Besigye during a talk show on KFM yesterday. Photo by Faiswal Kasirye 

Kampala- Former FDC president Kizza Besigye has said he walked out of the Independence Day celebrations to demonstrate that the NRM government has lost its way.

Speaking on the popular KFM talk show Hard Talk yesterday, the former bush war hero justified his action, saying the
government had ritualised such national days and turned the Independence into an NRM function.

The celebrations were held in Rukungiri Town on Wednesday.

Dr Besigye walked away after the Media Centre executive director Ofwono Opondo said the function was held in Rukungiri because the residents had asked for it to show their faith in the NRM. "The walk-away from Independence function was to demonstrate that it is a function that has lost its meaning," he said.

The retired colonel, and also onetime personal physician to President Museveni, explained that he had chosen to attend the function because his home district of Rukungiri was hosting it for the first time and because it had also attracted
many dignitaries. "It was prudent for me to attend. I was there to mark the day but not to celebrate," Besigye stressed.

He added that what transpired at the event and the course of events showed that it was not a national celebration but a day to commemorate what the NRM has done 27 years in power.

Walk-out
Dr Besigye, accompanied by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Democratic Party vice president for the Western Region, Mr Imam Makumbi, prematurely walked away from the celebrations before being briefly held by security for fear they would disrupt the celebrations.

Besigye added that choosing to attend the 'ritualised' celebrations can be equated to why he has always opted to stand
"against President Museveni in elections clearly knowing they are always rigged."

"It is to continuously expose the rot in this regime; the abuse of power, resources and now national days in the admiration of a single person and group of people," he said.

Dr Besigye fell out with President Museveni's government in 1999 after writing a highly critical paper accusing the NRM of becoming undemocratic, intolerant and derailing from the original objectives of the NRM's five-year guerilla struggle between 1981 and 1986.

He has since unsuccessfully run thrice against Mr Museveni for the presidency, first in 2001, then in 2006 and 20011.

The 'walkway' action drew mixed criticisms from social commentators and several people, saying it reflected lack of respect to the President and Ugandans but others supported it.

Dr Besigye, however, maintained: "It was a demonstration to stand with Ugandans in this state of intimidation; where such a celebration requires unrealistic deployment of the army and anti-aircraft artilleries."

On apologizing to Museveni
President Museveni early this week at the opening of the Wandegeya Market, said he is willing to work with Besigye and Lukwago provided they first repent and confess their sins.

Dr Besigye to this, however said, the President, "simply suffers from lack of self-confidence and inferiority complex that he wants to show the world as having powers to even draw apologies from his enemies.

"I cannot apologise because I have never done anything wrong other than condemning his dictatorship and injustices to the people of Uganda."

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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