Dr. Kizza Besigye
KAMPALA – Opposition leader-turned-activist Dr Kiizza Besigye has said it is no longer necessary to use guns to overthrow the ruling NRM government.
According to Dr Besigye, such violent means have instead turned out to be the source of Uganda’s problems.
“Those who are victorious by the gun become the new problem,” he said, alluding to President Museveni who used the gun to assume power in 1986.
However, he said Museveni has since disrespected the rule of law and democracy.
Besigye was part of the NRA rebels that took power in 1986 but he said he regrets being part of the establishment.
“Truly I regret it and apologize for the violent engagements that we went through. But it was a form of engagement. It was the how. Because when you are going to fight, you unite to fight,” he said.
The four-time presidential candidate was speaking on Tuesday at a conference held at Hotel Africana in Kampala to remember the legacy of former DP president Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere.
Despite ruling out the use of the gun, Dr Besigye agreed that opposition unity, which the late Ssemogerere believed in and promoted, can help pressure the ruling government.
“It is only common sense, it is logical that to pursue those common goods, we must have a collective effort. So unity in our diversity is not just reasonable, it’s unavoidable if we are to achieve the common good,” said Besigye.
Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi said the political elites are the major stumbling block to unity.
He said the opposition needs to find a formula on how to sort out the elites when it comes to politics and politicking in the country.
Many speakers hailed the late Ssemogerere for having mentored the young folks into politics. Dr. Paul Ssemogerere died in November 2022 aged 9.
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