Former Forum for Democratic Change president Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye has today started party flag bearer campaigns for his 2016 presidential bid.
Besigye, who is contesting internally against bush war colleague and current party president Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, started his bid with a rally at the heavily guarded Kyadondo Grounds in Kasangati, where he urged his supporters to unite and agitate for electoral reforms before the 2016 elections.
“We have to unite as Ugandans no matter what our political ideologies are and fight for these political reforms before the elections in 2016. We want to see where the power really belongs now, either to the people or to the thieves that rig votes,” Besigye said amid heavy police presence.
Dr Besigye also lashed out at the NRM government, saying it had looked on indifferently as unabated corruption orchestrated by its officials had caused misery to the people at the grassroots.
“These days they no longer steal millions; instead they steal billions which money would be used to pay teachers or even build hospitals. They claim that money is not there but Uganda being a rich country, the money is there but only poorly allocated,” he said.
The retired soldier also said the prevailing circumstances in the country made him rescind his initial decision not to contest for presidency again.
“We are struggling to see that the power leaves the hands of a few individuals and goes back to its rightful owners, the people, and before this is achieved I am not going to rest,” said the three-time presidential aspirant, who was later escorted to Kawempe by police, followed by his supporters, for a similar meeting.
Last week, Dr Besigye was blocked from launching his campaigns in his home turf of Kasangati. He was later arrested and detained at Nagalama Police Station, charged with illegal assembly.
But this was to change yesterday when, after reaching consensus with the FDC party representatives, Besigye was allowed to continue with his campaigns throughout the country, with Entebbe and Wakiso next on his political journey.
