Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officer General David Sejusa has revealed that he convinced Col (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye to join the 2016 presidential race.

Addressing Besigye’s supporters at Nakivubo Stadium on Wednesday, Sejusa said it took him a whole night to convince a hesitant Dr Besigye to participate in the elections organised by the Electoral Commission under Eng Badru Kiggundu.

“I spent a night at Dr. Besigye’s home and when re rejected my request, I told him that the Commission is not for Kiggundu but for the people,” he said.

Sejusa appealed to Ugandans to rally their support behind Dr Besigye, saying he is a ‘man of the people’. “Besigye buried my father when I was away in London while President Museveni did not,” Sejusa said while referring to his late father Mzee Simon Peter Bwajoojo, who died in 2014 while the General was in exile in London.

Sejusa also said Dr Besigye has the capability to redeem ‘Ugandans from the captivity inflicted upon them by Museveni and his NRM government’.

In 2012 Dr Besigye, who is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer in the 2016 presidential race, had said he would not participate in any presidential election organized by the current Electoral Commission.

He even resigned his position as the FDC party President a year before his term ended in 2014, arguing that he wanted to pave way for his successor to settle in the position before the 2016 presidential elections.

However, in June this year Besigye made a U-turn and announced that he would participate in the presidential elections. Subsequently, he contested for the party flag against his party President Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu.

He won against Muntu, beginning the journey to his nomination as presidential candidate in the 2016 elections.

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The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer kicked off his campaigns at Nakivubo on Wednesday afternoon, after being nominated at Nambole Stadium earlier in the morning.

Speaking to thousand s of supporters who converged at Nakivubo stadium, Col (rtd) Dr Warren Kizza Besigye said he had joined the presidential race to ‘liberate Ugandans  from the dictatorship inflicted upon them by the NRM leadership’.

“I cannot ask you to give me power because you are powerless but what I am asking is to work to together in order to liberate ourselves,” Dr Besigye told the frenzied crowd.

Earlier Dr Besigye had caused a stir in Kampala, when thousands of supporters chanting praise songs braved the 12 kilometre journey to escort him to and fro Mandela National Stadium, with the convoy to Nakivubo spending five hours on the road, from noon to 5.00pm

In his address, Besigye thanked the FDC leadership and other leaders from other political affiliations for the support they have rendered him.

He said his campaign is going to be a ‘three phase strategy of liberation of Ugandans from slavery and bondage’.

“First, we have the struggle of liberating our country; second is functionalizing the institutions and then finally we shall ensure universal development,” he stressed.

Besigye pledged to improve service delivery once elected president.

“We need to modernize agriculture, improve education to ensure employment for all and improve the health sector to ensure there is medicine in the health facilities and better payment for our medical personnel,” he said.

He also promised better pay for civil servants, called for agriculture loans to modernize agriculture and for development loans to enable job creation among the youth.

Dr Besigye was accompanied to Nakivubo by a number of FDC top guns including FDC part president Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, deputy president Reagan Okumu, National Chairman Waswa Birigwa, Leader of Opposition Wafula Ogutu, opposition chief whip Cecilia Ogwal and Secretary General Nandala Mafabi.

Others were FDC MPs Geoffrey Ekanya, Winnie Kizza, Elijah Okupa, Paul Mwiru, Nabilah Nagayi Sempala, Wamayi Wamanga, Lucy Akello, Moses Kasibante, Roland Mugume Kaginda, William Nzoghu, Gilbert Olanya and Patrick Amuriat among others.

The FDC flag bearer’s campaign was also attended by political leaders from other dispensations including Conservative Party’s John Ken Lukyamuzi, General David Sejusa and the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Addressing the crowd Lukwago said he accompanied Besigye to the nomination because of the consistency with which he has fought for the right of Ugandans under extreme oppression.

“I thank you for turning up in large numbers and I believe if you had done this to me as well I should  have been at City Hall doing the work you sent me to do,” he added.

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Organisers of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa have today announced that the Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will be the keynote speaker in the fifth anniversary of the event to be held on 16th -17th April 2016.

Held every year in the northern Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, the Tana High-Level Forum is an informal gathering of a wide spectrum of African leaders and citizens: heads of state and government; leaders of regional organisations; civil society; the private sector; eminent scholars and practitioners; students and youth; and representatives of Africa’s global partners.

The theme for the 2016 edition of the Tana Forum is “Africa in the Global Security Agenda”.

“Africa is in midst of a rapid social, political, and economic transformation. These transformations and the changing fortunes of its citizens come with added responsibilities. As Africa’s economic importance in the world increases, it must assume its growing importance maturely and conscientiously, including on security related concerns. I look forward to discussing these issues at the 2016 Tana Forum”, said Kofi Annan.

Born in Ghana, Annan was the co-recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize with the United Nations for their work for a better organised and more peaceful world. With the Kofi Annan Foundation, Mr Annan mobilises political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights. He also chairs the Elders Group founded by the late former South African President Nelson Mandela, and the Africa Progress Panel.

“There are few people in the international community that command respect across the board for their tireless work in ensuring a peaceful future for Africa like Kofi Annan”, said H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and Chairperson of the Tana Board. “He brings a wealth of experience, not just from his time as the UN Secretary General, but also his involvement in peace-making efforts across the continent. We are delighted that he has agreed to join us in Bahir Dar and look forward to an insightful keynote address.”

‘The Forum’s mission is to further open a vigorous debate on the nature and causes of Africa’s pressing security threats and, over time, to cultivate a distinctively African voice on understanding and confronting the chief peace and security challenges the continent is facing’ a release by the Africa Press Organisation (APO) states.

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Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential flag bearer has been nominated this morning at the Namboole Stadium.

Besigye, who arrived at the nomination venue followed by thousands of supporters, was proposed by Nulu Nakalema and seconded by Dennis Onekalit.

“It is a unique moment for me to be nominated by the EC that I protest; I have nothing against individuals but against institution. I should have been nominated yesterday, “but was not (to be) because they said I wrote to the EC Secretary and not the Chairman,” Dr Besigye said adding that he found that irregular.

He said presidential nominations were supposed to have been held a month ago, but that the process was delayed to allow for President Museveni to be cleared by the National Resistance Movement.

On his candidature, Dr Besigye said his 2016 campaign is hinged on ‘returning power to the people’.

“The campaign is about liberating the people by empowering them. Their power was usurped and this time the campaign is about defiance not compliance,” Dr Besigye said.

Meanwhile, Al Haji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala withdrew from the race; the only female aspirant Maureen Walube Kyalya failed to make the EC grade, while Charles Lwanga of the Ecological Party of Uganda was once again turned away after he failed to satisfy the requirements for nomination.

When Lwanga appeared yesterday, it emerged he did not have proof that he had paid the Shs20 million nomination fees and his photos were also not of the requisite standard as set by the EC.

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The Electoral Commission has today nominated three candidates for the  2016 presidential elections. First to be nominated was incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who arrived at the nomination venue at Mandela National Stadium at Nambole at 10.00am in the company of his wife Janet Kataha Museveni.

Donning a yellow shirt and a pair of black trousers, Museveni was nominated by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda and seconded by the Minister for Youth Evelyn Anite. Among others who accompanied Museveni were the Vice President Edward
Kiwanuka Sekandi, 1st Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura, former Minister of Information Kirunda Kivejinja, former Vice President
Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya and NRM Secretary Genaral Justin Kasule Lumumba.

Addressing reporters shortly after his nomination the president thanked Ugandans for their previous support and called upon them give him the next five-year mandate in order to consolidate the NRM achievements.

Just as the President was driving out of the nomination venue, Amama Mbabazi, a former NRM Secretary General and Prime Minister, drove in in the company of his daughter Rachel Mbabazi. Others who escorted Mbabazi included among others Hon. Beatrice Anywar, former UPC President Ambassador Olara Otunnu, DP secretary General Mathias Nsubuga, The Democratic Alliance Chairman Livingstone Okello Okello, JEEMA President Asuman Basalirwa, former ethics minister Maria Matembe and Ms Rosette Nsubuga.

Mbabazi was proposed by Hon Anywar and seconded by Ms Nsubuga. In his address Mbabazi urged Ugandans to vote him to power in order to bring about change. Asked why he did not bring about change for the time he was in government, Mbabazi said it was because he was never President. “That is the reason I am seeking to become President so I have the executive powers to delegate my team and work for the betterment of this country,” he said.

The former Prime Minister also pledged his total commitment towards reforms, adding that he was still committed to unity in the
opposition. He also said doors were still open for talks with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in order to field a single
candidate. Shortly after Mbabazi’s address former Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Venasius Baryamureba, in the company of his two daughters, was nominated to run in the 2016 elections. The don told reporters that his opponents that had been nominated
before him are too old to lead Uganda. “At 46 I am the right person to be entrusted with the power to govern Uganda since all my opponents are above 60 and should be in retirement. If it was in the Anglican church both Museveni and Mbabazi would be retired bishops,” he noted.

Baryamureba pleged to improve the education sector in order to solve the problem of illiteracy and unemployment, and also promised to improve agriculture, industry and the transport network. He also urged Ugandans not vote FDC flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye, and
Mr Mbabazi, saying they have nothing new to offer Ugandans.  “Mbabazi and Museveni have governed Uganda for the last 30 thirty
years and what Mbabazi failed to do while Prime Minister, he cannot do it now,” he said.

Meanwhile, the nomination papers of aspirant Charles Lwanga of the Ecological Party of Uganda were rejected. Lwanga, who arrived at the nomination venue amid heavy downpour at around 1.30 pm, was told he could not be nominated after he failed to prove that he had paid the nomination fees of Shs20 million.

He was advised to rectify the mistakes mentioned and book another time for nomination “since nominations are open till November 4.” And, addressing the media Lwanga said he was going to correct the anomalies in order to get nominated on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ‘Independent’ candidate Nasser Ntege Ssebagala who was supposed to appear before the Commission for nomination later today never turned up. But earlier while talking to the media Ssebagala, a former Kampala City Mayor and Advisor to President Museveni, said he would support his former boss Museveni in the 2016 elections.

Sebagala joins former Vice President Prof Gilbert Bukenya, whonannounced two weeks ago that he would support Museveni for presidency in the coming elections, and true to his word, accompanied his former boss for nomination today.

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The nominations of President Yoweri Museveni and John Patrick Amama Mbabazi early today have led to a massive traffic jam in Kampala.

Commuters who use the Kampala-Jinja Highway were forced to seek alternative routes including Ntinda-Kyaliwajjala and Nakawa-Kinawataka after the main road was closed off at the Spear Motors junction.

Similarly, cars on most city access roads like Ntinda-Stretcher, Luzira-Nakawa, Mutungo-Nakawa and Kampala City-Wandegeya-Ntinda were moving at snail’s pace, making many arrive at their destinations hours late.

Museveni and Mbabazi were nominated at 9.00am and 11.00am at the Mandela Stadium, Namboole, respectively, and thereafter they led their supporters to the venues of their first official campaign rallies in preparation for the 2016 general elections.

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