
Uganda Human Rights Commission: “Re: Complaint No. CTR/13/2016 Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe and Attorney General” (05.10.2016)



Under a normal political situation, a nation’s day of independence should be euphoric: citizens and leaders alike join together to celebrate their triumph overcolonialism, remembering the day when they became a nation led and governed by their own with their mandate.
Frankly, Uganda’s independence heroes had a natural and legitimate right to free Uganda from a century of British dominance. Colonialism had many unacceptable effects that took away many citizenship rights; political rights to determine who governs them, economic rights to determine who controls their resources and use them equitably and have control over state institutions that served the rulers than the people. The most pernicious effect of colonialism was the control of the mind and distortion of our culture creating in the people a slave mentality.
In 1962 however, we inherited a functioning, though enclave, economy with an effective transport (road and rail) system, sufficient hydro electric power supply, a sizeable extractive and manufacturing industry, a strong agricultural sector and functioning social services.
Post colonial Uganda has however not only maintained the inherited political system that denies citizens the fundamental rights and freedoms and maintained the slavery mentality maintaining a master – slave relationship , it has also destroyed the enclave economy, destroyed agricultural production , infrastructure, social services and the extractive and manufacturing industry. It also introduced and entrenched corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism etc. As a result, Uganda’s 54 years have been marked by : Political instability (no leader has handed power to another leader), violence, a failed economy and social strife. The duty of our people now therefore to reclaim the country to get back our rights, freedoms and resources through struggle and hence the DEFIANCE CAMPAIGN; the people’s non violent struggle. This will lead to a post NRM transition in which we shall carry out Constitutional Reforms, Rebuild State Institutions, engage in Truth Telling, Accountability and Reconciliation followed by Free and Fair elections.
As Ugandans, we have a solemn duty to reverse the plunder and destruction of our country. We must realise though that this call to national duty is not a call to an easy task. It has to start with changing people’s mindset and perceptions about national and state power relationships. The process can only be difficult if people submit. We have to defy and refuse to cooperate with the dictator. The more we cooperate, the more he enjoys the use of tools of coercion and maintains the illegitimate rule over us.
Luckily, like it has been in all societies where people have had a demand for standing up for their rights to defy and defeat dictatorship, Ugandans are resiliently focusing their energies on dismantling NRM and Mr. Museveni dictatorship. I see many organised groups of Ugandans that have taken on the call to bring about change in our country. We can only join them. Then Ugandans will truly celebrate independence.
Col.(Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye
People’s President

“Happy 54th Independence celebrations. I salute all Ugandans and congratulate you on this auspicious occasion” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Today, the National Resistance Movement and their junta regime under President Musveni is supposed to celebrate 54 years of Freedom and Liberty from the British Empire. Today there are supposed to be both Celebration Parties from the Government, but also the Opposition Party Forum for Democratic Change, something they even asked permission from the Police Authorities. Instead they are either behind house-arrest or like Dr. Kizza Besigye who tried to leave his home in Kasangati, Wakiso District; where taken from his gates and the put in the notorious “black van” or “torture van” and reported to spend the day at the Naggalama Police Station in Mukono. Something that has happen frequently in the recent months.

Just as the NRM and their President are celebrating giving away awards to the Uganda Cranes and other dignitaries on this day in Luuka District. The Police are house-arresting several leaders in the FDC, because they fear the level of popularity and their connection with the people that will make the current leadership look weak.
The ironic about this is that Independence Day are celebrated by the Authorities using active colonial laws to oppress citizens who doesn’t validate the ruling regime and their methods of staying in power. This happens as Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago and Hon. Allan Ssewanyana has been arrested as well.

In Katwe, Kampala the FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe and Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya we’re arrested by the Police as they started to have their own independent Celebration in the area.
But the President himself is priding himself with the army and Police in Luuka, because it’s not like he can get a lot of people to surround himself anymore because of popularity as the fatigue of his greed and depleting state of affairs.

So the freedom that President Museveni provides is just if he is given loyalty or offers it, either because the citizen doesn’t matter or the person is not a threat to his existence of power. That proves the limited vision of liberty and justice under the current NRM regime and their force of aggravated assaults on the true independence of Uganda. Uganda should celebrate their liberation from the giant empire of United Kingdom. They might got rid of the control from London, but the control of Okello House of Entebbe or State House in Kampala isn’t that much better. They are still monitoring and controlling the civil society and impunity towards their own citizens… acting and using laws that we’re made under colonial times to silence the voices who wanted liberty back then from Whitehall.
Medals are given to these men it’s reported from the Uganda Media Centre:


The President shouldn’t congratulate, he is late and he doesn’t care of liberties and freedoms of his own, only about himself and his elite that has risen while he took power. Peace.

Just as the Police Force AIGP Andrew Kaweesi has been blurring and telling the Forum for Democratic Change that their not allowed to do Public rallies or anything; which by his reckoning is bound by law. The FDC is really under siege. This is happening while the pictures surface of how many Police Officers and Guards around Dr. Kizza Besigye house and his compound in Kasangati, Wakiso.
Also that the FDC Spokesperson without any warrant, any court-order or any considered method of criminal justice we’re put under house-arrest by the Uganda Police Force, at his home in Bukasa Bweyogere. This proves how malicious the rigged system is against the leading opposition and the counter-argument against the NRM and their Executive. That they have without any reason or reasonable legal motivated care for justice put Honourable Ibrahim Ssemujja Nganda.
While that was taking place the Honourable Besigye we’re fleeing his homestead and cleared away from the massive guarded areas of his compound again. Dr. Kizza Besigye has been able to pass-out before as he has done with wits. Today he went out so he could pay his respect Mr. Richard Mafabi in Buteza, Budadiri West Constituency, Sironko District. The former Magistrate of Makindye, a man who he has encountered a few times in his career. So he wanted to be noble and honour the man.

So now the Police Force is picking-up more of the Central Leadership of FDC. They cannot help themselves to do something else. They do this like in spite of the rules and regulation in the mercy of public safety, but they only does it to silence the Opposition. The legitimate party of the land and not the one that has to bribe itself into existence like the Movement does for the moment.
The FDC are under steady attack, not allowed to do its activity. Every time they try to do party works than their FDC Headquarters at Najjankumbi or some of key leadership are detained, under house-arrest or just under surveillance of the Police. The Police and Authorities are so vividly attached to upkeep of the FDC that their budget has to have giant space for the FDC and their activities. They have to pay out a lot of salary to keep up with the FDC and their work. This must be seen as wasted funds as they only further the purpose of defiance for the FDC and not strengthening the cause of the Opposition.
The Movement and their Police are just making this into a foul-play instead of what they are trying to achieve. They doing it with impunity instead of with legitimately… because when they have to take the step of house-arresting fellow MPs without any consideration and claim of illegal activity you know the government and their security outfits are totally out of bound with legitimate rule of law and justice. The Justice and Rule of Law is only serving the Elite and NRM not the people, because even the so-called representatives can be taken hostage and arrested without any court order or use of codes of law to present their case towards the person who we’re too be charged.
This is the illegal steps the government does to its own citizens and without any concern for rights. They are only caring about staying power, not serving the citizens therefore they detaining, house-arrests and personify their current impunity with the attacks on the FDC. Peace.

Today I read and not in aw that the Uganda Police Force have not allowed the Forum for Democratic Change have separate Luuka celebration or celebration or possessions on the Independence day and in the Independence week. So initially the only ones independent and free is the ones following allegiance to the ruling regime and National Resistance Movement. As the others has to follow their program and effort, bow in silence and with relief of their limited liberty.
The ashes and razors of the Movement are now clear. The dusts of past glories are now overshadowing the marginalization’s of the open multi-party democracy that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni never really wanted or in-accurately really wanted to usher in. As the double unknown ballots and elections got it in. Still, the well rigged machinery and securing control of selected men has continued as the skeleton of free democracy has been there, but none in the sense that people really elected the men and woman to rule the nation. Because that we’re chosen from the National Executive Committee of the Movement or from the head itself.
In clarity I am tired of the charades of courtship when there ones taken there are for show or for the reason of making it look like rule of law. When the reality seems more following orders, than following laws and the institutions of justice; the elections are more fragile fully fledged money hungry politicians who ask for favours than trying to come with real policies or political framework to change Uganda. The few who do is very few and the Electoral Commission leaves very little circumstance as they cook the ballots to fit the program of President Museveni and by no-chance in burning hell leave the Parliament to other parties than his beloved Movement.
The initial tiredness today is not only because of the House-Arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye, the knowledge of many FDC Youths lingering in jail, FDC members and leaders with the same faith, Democratic Party Youth and Leaders detained and political activists waiting trial and detained at random. That is just vicious effect of the political space and thin air of judgement from the master on top that want to have total control of monies, power and trying to capture respect.
President Museveni, do yourself a favour, I am tired and those who see what you do is tired. Not as the recess of Parliament is until 14th November, after a lousy-goosy month of September when the Parliament even we’re closed-up for while many MPs travelled to United States on Seminar. No the tired Mr. President comes from one thing, the impunity and the accessibility of liberty and freedom for other than the Movement. It is so limited for the rest like a parade.

Museveni, the Parade, see what I got, see what I got: I got the Democratic Party, Uganda People’s Congress and so on; though he won’t be proud of FDC and the other defiance chapter of Multi-Party democracy he wished in his heart that everybody we’re as soft as Hon. Beti Kamya of Uganda Federal Alliance or Hon. Jimmy Akena of the Uganda People’s Congress.
So when the Police Force is continuing to disallow a political party to act, to be apart or have their own. They are struggling just to be allowed to have consultation meetings before the Campaign trial of General Election 2016. This is the proof of the little wish the Police Force and the Movement wants them to co-exist. They only let the ones co-exists if they are no threat or just for show. There are times the Democratic Party have been taken by local Police by just campaigning at night, while President Museveni had a car and lights into the late evening on his trail. It’s just a façade of rule of law and multi-party democracy.
And when it is sham, a charade and a façade, because that is what it is at this point. With the main contender, the power-broker behind bars in his own humble home in Kasangati. Besigye is the one that cannot be contained behind his gate and President Museveni knows this. He is creating havocs on his own with the force of his security organizations called the Police.
President Museveni your games should stop. Your nonsense and your misbehaving should stop and you should just close the gates. Something you really never wanted to open. You are not a democrat and never wanted to act as one. This is your only way to rise to power we’re through a Bush-War and devious killings of close allies and enemies to settle score to stay in power.

You can use all kind of laws to settle the score, to keep them at bay and silence them. That is why the oppressive behaviour and the continuation of deliberate acts impunity and taking away freedom and justice for the ones who allegiance to other than the Movement. This is the proof of the recent act of Luuka preparations. As the FDC did comply with Public Order Management Act to file in the request for a public political event; as they did so the Police ordered it unlawful as they often do.
There we’re rare luck that the FDC and even Go-Forward at some point in recent months could without any consideration act as free parties, they had to comply with the law; while the NRM and their henchmen could file in the last minute and still be allowed. They nearly did it to save face, not because they really needed it; it was on order from the President to have meetings and celebrations at Kololo Independence Grounds or anywhere else for that matter. But if somebody else where to have something going on, than they had to apply and by luck get allowed to have meeting of their party!
This is something that remains a factor and not a relief this continuation and pro-longed fake democracy and fake ballot-stuffing piece of nonsense that keeps the Parliament and the Local Government in the control of the President; nobody else vision matter, they never have that is why he helped overthrow the other and became a rebel. For President Museveni nobody else’s vision for Uganda matters only his. President Museveni doesn’t even trust enough in his heir of Brig. Muhoozi or Maj. Gen. Muhoozi to be able to rule over anything else then the Special Force Command.

At this point of time the Movement and their President isn’t really caring about liberty, freedom or justice; if so the FDC wouldn’t be in trouble over a having a citizen travelling back to the homeland. If the Movement and the ruling regime cared for democracy than they would let the FDC and their members be free to congregate and do party work; instead the Movement uses the Police to siege the home of Besigye, treason charge on Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka, besieging the FDC Headquarters of Najjankumbi and all the other Political Activists who are behind bars.
They are all in the Courts, Detained at the Police Posts and the ones awaiting trial for being part of the wrong party at the wrong time. That is not democracy or justice that is the vision and the will of the President who built this system and fragile institutions that cannot even be able to fight corruption; unless they report directly to him so he can fix it. That is 30 years of concrete planning and marginalize the institutions and procedures so they have to go by the President if they ever where to become something or help somebody.
The Movement right now is the only Party and Institution who are allowed to co-exist with the Government. Well, it is the Government and runs the Government so that Ofwono Opondo can spell-out his lies and deceit still getting paid by hour. That is the wishes of this gracious king, sorry His Excellency President Museveni.
So please, please President Museveni does yourself a favour this façade and charade is too old for the world, for your cow-farming and for your tricks of old. Its time relax; continue to thieving of government funds while getting NGOs to feed the starving refugees as you have had. This while foreign donors get to take land for their business and your citizens get into PoC camps. There is time to silence the critics and be your true self. That is being the anti-democratic person who only believes in his own vision. The vision of your own power and rule is the only one that matters; the rest is rubbish and nonsense. Peace.

“Police is not going to allow any activity that is going to disrupt normal activity in the city. FDC didn’t communicate changes regarding Kizza Besigye’s return. We expected him on September 29,” police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi on FDC’s planned procession to welcome the leading opposition figure” (NBS TV Uganda,2016).
It’s ironic that the Police Spokesman and that the Authorities has questions towards normal activity as of just hours ago the Kampala we’re busy with the KCCA sponsored Carneval where Dr. Jennifer Musisi drove a expensive Mercedes and the different sponsors had tents and concerts while the Kampala we’re decorated for festivities and other acts that the Police accepted, but that FDC and Besigye planning something is “disrupting normal activity” which means disrupting the embezzlement and power of the people like the regime does daily. Well, here is my reports and quotes from what happen on this day!
Just as the roads to the Entebbe International Airport we’re closed with roadblocks to close off the Airport as the Kenya Airways containing Besigye we’re arriving this morning. The Journalists wishing to attend and see the arrival we’re blocked from doing so. The Pro-Change Youth who wanted to decorate roads around Entebbe we’re arrested the numbers we’re up to 26 people alone there.
While at FDC Headquarters Najjankumbi we’re besieged by the Police Command of the area and there we’re even a military helicopter flying over. While 200 supporters and FDC leadership we’re stuck inside as the Police Officers and such kept the Political Party of Besigye under siege yet again.

As the Airplane arrived and opened for the people to disembark the security outfit, somebody claims the Flying Squad aka Special Force Command that is under Museveni’s son Brig. Muhoozi. That they we’re going into the plane with Civil Aviation Authority clothes and kidnapped him one the spot as they whisked him into a CAA vehicle on the ground. They just took him without his passport and his luggage as he was taken away without knowing his final destination. Nobody knew but the captors.
In the early morning the FDC officials and FDC VIPs like FDC MPs we’re not allowed by Airport Security to even be at the VIP Lounge to congregate and make festivities for the arriving Besigye, as they didn’t know at that point that he would be kidnapped by CAA people or people we’re CAA clothes.
There we’re roadblocks between Kampala and Wakiso, to be correct into Kasangati where Besigye resides and famously known as Kasangati Statehouse. That we’re blocked and there we’re mambas and Anti-Demonstrations vehicles all around the roads as the fear of the government as the Political Party leader of FDC we’re coming home.
As in Kampala the Clock Tower we’re sealed off, there are even reports of tear-gassing the public on Jinja Road. While the Police Officers and Police Cars we’re everywhere taking civilians into jail or whisking them away.
“Moses Walugembe (NBS reporter): “We’ve been told journalists aren’t allowed to proceed to the airport. We have asked the officers why we are being blocked and an officer told us they are under orders. Access to the airport is limited to passengers” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)
At Kitubulu on Entebbe road from the packed Kajjansi Police Post the traffic corresponding the area, all of them we’re checked by the Police Officers before being allowed to continue to pass towards Entebbe. The same Police even stopped a man for going with Matooke on the side of the road and took it from the man.
Doreen Nyanjura statement today:
“Here at Entebbe police station, Police goons have come with stones, sticks and pangas! They want the activists to take photos With the stones, sticks and Pangas! Fortunately they are defying and I have joined them in the defiance. We have chased the camera man away. What nonsense is this! This is not the first time these goons are doing this!” (Nyanjura, 2016).
The Supporters ready to greet Besigye in Kampala with Blue Colours and gear we’re either whisked away or detained as the regime don’t want to look weak as the People’s President we’re arriving home.

Kizza Besigye: ”What happened today is a clear demonstration that I am the people’s president. I got here with a whole convoy of police cars, all with sirens, bringing the president back. I have not come back officially. My passport is not stamped. My luggage is still at the airport. Some police officers went to claim my luggage, a thing Kenya Airways refused to do” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).
At Makerere University Pro-Change students who we’re preparing for activity today we’re also detained as they we’re not allowed to celebrate the return of Besigye.
There we’re so much un-necessary behaviour of the Police, but this is the proud men of IGP Kale Kayihura and Mzee, they cannot do otherwise. The planned meeting and the regiment of Police earlier days ago we’re not transparent as they had to violently and with brutal misconception of freedom take him away from the airport.
The NRM regime is weak when they fear the man this much and does this to civilian without an army or a guerrilla. They do this to man who wants accountability and transparency, a government governed by the people. He is flogged and stolen away his freedoms for the cause of them. President Museveni and his elite is weak unit when they cannot muster a gentler force and better will power than this.
The FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye knows that this cannot go on indefinite as the use of resources and time will trickle on the power and their reputation as the news of their unneeded activity towards the opposition like today. The repressive and oppressive behaviour that I hope leads into more Organizations and more Multi-Nationals like World Bank and AIG pulls out their support of funds towards the NRM regime and their eating of the poverty of their citizens while the voices of the citizens struggle to live and have freedom. Peace.


I fear for tomorrow and for the roads from Entebbe International Airport tomorrow. That is because the Uganda Police Force have beaten civilians with batons and thrown tear-gas steady through 2015-2016. As long as the Forum for Democratic Change and former Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye have drove or been around somewhere the Police Force has used excessive force towards the ordinary people.
I also fear for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), even as the organizers of the return of Besigye have been at the Police Force. They we’re detained as is tradition by now for the IGP Kale Kayihura colleagues and family. Who takes in Political Opposition into jail daily if they could for no apparent reason; but on this rare occasion the Police actually talked to FDC Youth and others who are behind the procession.
The Procession will happen if they we’re organizing or not, since if you have followed the political leader Besigye, you know his real popularity and the reasons for his epical rise. Also if you have followed the man you know the ending of it; if it is business as usual in Kampala.
The National Resistance Movement and Uganda Police Force are two tightknit bodies who work for the general calm and control of all people under the vision of the old man with the hat. That is an unwritten rule and guideline that was forgotten to amend into the 1995 Constitution; nevertheless, the outcomes are usually the same.
There will be Police Brutality and will be people detained tomorrow, the Besigye himself will be taken from his car at some point. Harold Kajja, Ingrid Turinawe, Erias Lukwago, Pastor David Ngabo, Doreen Nyanjura, Wafula Oguttu and others might be detained after their cars been taken away at the same time. The planned rally or consulting meeting will be dispersed by the Police Force as well.

Afterwards the AIGP Kaweesi will sweet-talk on NTV Uganda and NBS TV using all kind of excuses and say the Police Officers was doing so because of criminal activity, looting, exodus of rats, thieving and the unauthorized movement not complying with Public Order Management Act; the infamous Anti-Besigye Act. Because it was created to silence the public and the opportunity for him to garn crowds without having the authorities to silence them with protection of a government sanctions towards him and his party.
With this in mind, I fear tomorrow, it should be jolly, but I don’t. I have no faith in the NRM and their Police Commanders doing something positive and something that resemble justice at this point .The rotten acts of misbehaviour and violence that has been sanctioned over decades under President Yoweri Museveni doesn’t just stop. Even if he is living in riches and ignorance of the commoners struggle. Hey, he is rich and has all the wealth he could dream of in the bush before overthrowing the Kampala Political-Junta of the time.
So, with this in mind he has taken it all for granted and his nemesis is arriving on Entebbe tomorrow. It will be hostile and the suspect of treason arrives from Europe. I am not hopeful, I am not; do I wish it was different? Yes! Do I think it will be different? No. Not unless there are some people who a filling in forms for redemption.
The Police Force I expect tomorrow to create chaos on the road between Entebbe-Kampala-Kasangati. That the FDC Headquarters in Najjankumbi might even also be hit as the Treason Charged Michael Kabaziguruka and Dr. Kizza Besigye both might still have evidence shelved there.
The Police and their henchmen will use all kind of accusations to validate the violence on the citizens and the FDC who organize tomorrow “Homecoming” of Besigye. If not there are clearly a charade of decency that is unnatural under the leadership of Gen. Kayihura and Gen. Museveni. They cannot do anything else than use their tools to oppress their civilians. Peace.

The Defiance campaign couldn’t be an easy run; it would be and is a long walk to freedom. There isn’t a short quick and brief change out of thin air. The wish and concern isn’t only on the FDC Presidential Candidate of late Dr. Kizza Besigye. The arrests for Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka of Nakawa and his Court Martial; together with arrest of the ones who dare to protest against the National Resistance Movement in this day and age. Just like the Youth of Democratic Party who demonstrated against the greedy Members of Parliament we’re detained. The oppression of the NRM regime doesn’t go away overnight like morning dew.
For those of you who thought this would be easy. Yes I had hope in February that the FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye would win, because of the men running he had the best agenda and the needed remedy. The NRM has involved the Central Government in a way where the directions of the fiscal policies and the cash-barred MPs to beg for greed instead of dropping policies and laws that matters. The NRM machine are more caring about skinny jeans, short skirts and porn than having working equipment in the hospitals and steady delivery of needed medicines. This is the proof of the rigid brown-enveloped system blessed by the almighty at the State House.
While that is happening there people with hope and see that the brown-envelopes won’t create any common good, but only for the current elite who eat the spoils of foreign donors and the secretive agreements between government and businesses. Getting mansions and luxurious SUVs before riding to the closest mall where even the Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo stole underwear. It’s just how the system is made to blatant regard the men who in all their honour bow their heads to the Mzee on the top. They are allowed to do anything and get away with it. Therefore the ones who counter this paradigm get whipped, detained or even disgraced in public.

Still, with this in mind the blames that the current embattled Besigye is at fault. Not because he hasn’t tried and done what he could empower the opposition with vigour to assemble in Power 10 (P10) Structure and other to counter the NRM Poor Youth or any other group that the Government used to silence the FDC. The FDC mobilisers has been detained as common as the roads development has been bribing state officials; it is so common that the news of detaining a FDC Youth or Mobilisers are day-to-day acts of the Police Force. So it is not like Besigye and the FDC haven’t had heavy-water to carry.
The assurance that the Defiance Campaign wasn’t made in fear of repression from the NRM or the Government; should have been well known as the NRM Regime has since it establishment done what it could to harass and disrupt the rallies of Dr. Paul Ssemogerere and so on. The ones forgetting that is currently forgotten the past. I am sure even the current leader of DP Norbert Mao has had issues under the last Campaign Trial in 2011/2012. Norbert Mao we’re even detained during the campaign in this calendar-year because the UPF cannot help themselves to make life hard for real opposition.
So with that knowledge of this and even after the 10th Parliament have started and the Plenary Sessions begun. This is the start of the new breed of MPs, who wish to get more funds and more salaries then the former legislators. They want to be rich quick and get that on the public funds. They don’t have ideas of their obligations to represent their citizens and not eat of their citizens. Even if they just follow what the ‘Old Man with the Hat’ has teaches them as he came with empty pockets to the Parliament and now decades later are richer than god.

So if the ones caring thought the Defiance Campaign would succeed on its own like a marching band making noise on the gates when it past and everybody enjoying it. You’re wrong because some hates the marching band and other wish they just went down more street. Defiance of Besigye had to get public support and truly be invested in it to get the change happen. The fear of the repression of the regime and their sanctions might be a reason for why it has partly failed for the moment. Because if they wanted they should do more than quickly after thinking of boycotting the “Tubonga Nawe” artists who campaigned for the Cow farmer.
Besigye had #KigwaLeero wishing for a brighter future and make a difference. He asked for a government with accountability and we’re there for the public. Not like the ones that is there now who is there for former rebel who takes the riches for himself and leaves scraps for the elite who is loyal to him.
Defying the regime could not be done by him alone in Kasangati, it could be only be the hardliners who stood by Besigye in his hardships. It has to be made the ones who really want to get rid of the regime of present. It will not be easy and get there easily. Some has spoken of violence and using the tactics of old, like the ones that Mzee used himself to get power. If you do so wouldn’t you be the same as him? If he used guns and guerrilla warfare to get into power and you use the same doesn’t that make you a rebel who dreamed of power and not a true democrat? Even if Ghana’s Jerry Rawlings made it and ushered in a positive political system, that doesn’t necessary work for Besigye.
I doubt that Besigye want to use violence and rebel through the rifles and assassinate his opponents. As he was parts of the NRA and doesn’t want the change to be of the old ways, only through guns and on the battlefield. There is precisely in history that none President or Executive in Uganda has been changed peacefully through the ballot, instead through the bullets, which makes sense at least to those of us who believes in peaceful transitions.

That means that this is not alone on Besigye, this is on the supporters and the opposition itself. That means that struggle of the opposition has to defy the current regime. With means that hurt the regime and that discontinue the fiscal funding of government, that counter the legitimacy of the institutions and the opposition has to build strong grass-root movement that has most of the base in the population. So that you have all corners on the knees and weak; so that the actions of government can be countered by people’s sanctioning them. The best acts of the defiance during the Election period were the use of VPN to counter to Social-Media Ban of the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC). So the people have it naturally in them when they feel betrayed and knowledge of ways to stop nonsense from all-controlling government.
It’s that kind of defiance that is needed. That kind of acts that hurts the MTN and the others who practically funds the regime and keeps the taxation without representation going. Besigye can be blamed, but he is the spokesman and the one who is tormented by the regime already. So the man has done and continues to do his part. The people behind have to use their wisdom and ways to destabilize the regime by peaceful means and even risk their freedoms. As so many youths and people associated with FDC has been during the years. Also other political parties have also felt the pain of being opposition. So the ones blaming Besigye has lost the basic component of it all: the key is always the people! They, the people have the fate of the government in their hands; the Government lives either on the trust from the public or of the fear of the people going against it.
The people decide not only through secret ballots, but through their faith and their assessment of the situation of how they believe they should govern. Some might accept the current regime in silence because of the fear and the belief if they go against it they lose it all. But if those all thinks like this than the organizing against the current regime will not become of anything.
Now with this the FDC and Besigye have to show Defiance and be upfront as they have to use their support to weaken the NRM and their henchmen’s. This is not only defying in court and going from kangaroo courts and smiling on NTV. That is to directly counter the regimes acts in Parliament, demonstrate and boycott. Use other ways with even stronger force and more success than Walk to Work. That will not be easy and that can only happen if the momentum and belief together with the peoples. The Peoples or the Citizens can only act when they are sure they will conquer the regime, if not they will demonstrate and lose the little they have. They lose their hawking job and their voice where they were. That is not acceptable.

What Besigye has to do is not to give in or give up. He is the voice of hope and a brighter new day. But to get the brighter new day for the Ugandan people under a new government who have other belief in institutions and service delivery than the people has to support Besigye and his cause. Not because Besigye is only one who can do this, but because he is the ones who champion it through defiance on his own.
The ones who attacks Besigye for his campaign hasn’t understood it; but is more worrying is that people can only stand behind their voice in the wilderness or leave the belief of regime change. And giving up a 30 year regime and an Executive that has been there since 1986 is hard. Because of the ways the draconian laws and fiscal policies are set-up. That should give reason for the citizens to react with demonstrations and peaceful mobilizations in the ways of the VPN to defy the all-eating NRM and their in-accurate methods of silencing voices which isn’t their own. Peace.


