Besigye, Byanyima rally Ugandans in diaspora to join defiance campaign
Dr Besigye is received by Ugandans in the Diaspora upon arrival in London for the Forum for Democratic Change UK Chapter event at London’s Hilton Hotel. COURTESY PHOTO.
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Determined. Dr Besigye reiterated his stance on not giving up in what he called a non-partisan struggle
Kampala.
Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye last Saturday sought to explain to Ugandans in the Diaspora the prevailing political situation in the country as he rallied them to back efforts at home to dislodge what he called President Museveni’s “dictatorship”.
Dr Besigye, who was speaking at the Forum for Democratic Change UK Chapter event at London’s Hilton Hotel, reiterated his stance on not giving up in what he called a non-partisan struggle.
“Some of us are not going to relent. We are going to push without any hesitation,” he said.
Dr Besigye urged those involved in the struggle to end the more than 30- year grip of the ruling National Resistance Movement on power to move at the same pace.
“The danger has been that when all the leaders are not moving with the same kind of zeal and assertiveness, it exposes those who are zealous. They are seen as the problem of the dictatorship. That is why it is important that we all stand up in the final phase,” he said.
Dr Besigye, who spent more than two months in prison after the contested 2016 presidential elections and is battling treason charges for his stance that he won the elections, on Saturday maintained he had won the polls with 52 per cent.
The Electoral Commission that has the mandate to declare the winner announced President Museveni as victor with 60 per cent and Dr Besigye as runner-up with 35 per cent.
The former presidential candidate was introduced to the audience by his wife and former Mbarara Municipality MP Winnie Byanyima.
Ms Byanyima delivered a passionate speech urging people not to feel sympathetic to her husband for the challenges he faces in the attempt to dislodge President Museveni’s government.
“I married a man who stands up to injustice and does not count the cost,” Ms Byanyima said.
“Do not accept injustice, we take a stand, we take the blows,” she added.
Ms Byanyima, who recounted the problems ordinary Ugandans face such as the mothers who die during child labour daily, parents unable to send their children to school and the many educated youth without jobs, said Dr Besigye’s numerous incarcerations were emblematic of the state other Ugandans endure.
“As a prisoner, he symbolises that we are all prisoners. We have to liberate ourselves through defiance. We cannot accept to be ruled illegitimately,” she said.
More than 300 people attended the event, according to Thomas Ddumba, a UK-based FDC strategist. Several others followed live streams of the event on social media.
