Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has spoken out on a proposal for talks with Ugandan long serving ruler and National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni.
Formerly NRA bush war comrades and colleagues in the first decade of the post-war regime, Besigye and Museveni fell out at the turn of the millenium.
Besigye has been Museveni’s fiercest critic thus far. He has previously challenged his former ally four times in a row, albeit unsuccessfully, at least according to results released by the country’s Electoral Commission (EC) whose officials are appointed by the president — a candidate in all the presidential elections held in the nearly four-decade period.
There are now growing calls for talks between the regime in Entebbe and the opposition. As Besigye consulted on the future of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), which has been dogged by claims of betrayal by the top leaders of the party and their rumored alliance with Museveni, the issue of proposed talks came up.
In Masaka on September 12, Besigye was joined by his fellow Katonga Road faction leaders such as Kampala Lord Mayor and FDC Deputy President Erias Lukwago as well as party spokesperson, also Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
The group is in support of a delegates conference by FDC Chairman Wasswa Birigwa. But the Najjanankumbi faction led by embattled president Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi insist the conference is illegal and have even refused to finance it. Birigwa and his allies are fundraising for the event expected to happen in a few days’ time.
On talks with Museveni, Besigye says he does not support the idea of negotiations with the NRM/NRA ‘junta.’ However, he would back the idea if Museveni was ready to exit State House and peacefully hand over power.
Besigye has made it clear that the only thing he want from talks with Museveni is his exit from State House to Rwakitura.
“I personally will not accept to negotiate with Mr Museveni save for one thing that I will be prepare to talk about – that is the mechanism of his departure,” said Museveni
In 2022, there were reports that Besigye had held secret talks with Museveni. But Besigye came out to clear the air. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
It should also be remembered that Museveni previously made it clear that Besigye, Mugisha Muntu, and other opposition politicians were useless and were like wheelbarrows which he had to push around. (Read Stories Here and There).
But Museveni seems to support the idea of his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba taking over State House from him. It looks like the only issue unclear about the Museveni-Muhoozi succession is the time. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
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