Uganda: “Be change agents” – Besigye tells Anti-Museveni group in London
By Our Reporter – The last time they had such demo was way back on October 2, 2011, but they were in a more determined mood on Friday, as Forum for Democratic Change leader, Dr. Kiiza Besigye called on the expatriates to be the change agents.
A major protest against the brutal rule of Museveni in an East African country took place outside the House of Commons [British Parliament] in London.
The Friday Anti-Museveni protesters wave the Ugandan flags from the roadside in the British city London.
A battle for hearts and minds took place in the UK city of London as representatives from Uganda’s major political parties staged a demonstration against Museveni and in support of his main rival the FDC leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye who is widely believed to have won the February elections.
Dr. Besigye, himself who was in London, said that: “I support every individual who uses any means to demand for power.”
“You’re doing a very good job, and it is the right cause,” said Dr. Besigye whilst responding to whether, he supports the UUPF group that has been staging monthly demonstrations outside the British parliament since April this year. He added that: “This is not Besigye’s problem. It is a problem of everybody. You need to be the agent for change.”
In an exclusive interview with the reporter, Dr Besigye said that; “He cannot rule out the violent revolution.”
“I can see change in the horizons. Change will come very soon, because people are very strong,” said the former personal doctor of Museveni.
Uganda’s main opposition leader, Dr Besigye, has been tormented by Museveni’s brutal forces since the February 18, presidential elections. He has been one of the main commanders of the Walk-to Work protests, organised by Activities for Change (A4C) which is meant to highlight the double –digit inflation and the rising cost of essential commodities.
The government claims, that the walk-to-work campaigns are aimed at toppling the regime or harm the economy of the country and it [government] has since clampdown on the protests. Several arrests have previously been made and some of whom have been charged with treason charges.
In recent past Museveni has also proposed to have the country’s Constitution be amended to deny bail and keep the suspects in detention for at least 180 days. He also suggested that; there was a need to strengthen the law governing bail and he argued that protestors should not be granted bail in the same way like those who committed murder, defilement, economic sabotage and rioting.
Whilst majority of Ugandans live on less than $1 (£1.25) a day, the Museveni’s kith and next of kin get treatment abroad, the protestors contend. They also allege that even when corrupt officials are implicated in a number of scandals, they are not prosecuted or reprimanded living the biggest portion of the population to stay in abject poverty.
More than two-thirds of the population under the age of 24 with nearly 50 percent have no employment. “But when we talk or criticise this, it becomes a treasonable offence,” clearly Kiwanuka was referring to a number of people who were arrested during the walk-to-work protests and charged with terror charges in Uganda.
“Together we fight against poverty, corruption and injustice,” the protesters outside the UK Parliament chanted, between sporadic bursts of music and speeches delivered by opposition politicians from UUPF, DP, FDC, UPC, and other human rights activists.
Despite being billed as a “day of rage”, the opposition protests went off peacefully. Here there was no police brutality, Metropolitan police officials watched with amusement.
Wearing the cold weather overcoats, scarves, woollen hats they were joined by other human rights activists who sung: ‘let Tunisian, Egyptian or Libyan style be in Uganda. The protestors were in reference to the uprising in Tunisia; Egypt and Libya which saw all the three former dictators leave power because of people’s will.
“The regime is extensively weakened today and it is only thriving on intimidations, bribing the people, coercion and a divided army/force,” said Moses Kiwanuka, the Chairman of UUPF a pressure group that has persistently been organising the demos’ here in London.
“We’ve had enough of being left on the sidelines. Let Ugandans decide who will rule them in clean, fair elections,” said Mr Kiwanuka, adding that: “People shouldn’t be deterred by the recent call by some clergymen.” He was referring to a call by some Uganda’s bishops who called on Ugandans to shun protests because politicians use them to gain political capital at the expense of innocent civilians.
Echoing protesters in North African countries of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and others, Uganda’s opposition call upon every Ugandans to unite and see the end of Museveni’s regime.
On many occasions, government forces and machineries have been beating and slandering the protestors to dissuade the Walk to Work project.
“These demonstrations will continue until the government and the president comes to a consensus with the people of Uganda,” said Ms Sarah Kamulali a prominent Ugandan.
