KAMPALA, Uganda
Former Uganda Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President, Dr Kizza Besigye and Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine have announced a new alliance against President Yoweri Museveni.
Dubbed, the United Forces of Change, the two principals who
were flanked by members of their respective camps used the occasion of
announcing the formation of a new pressure campaign, to rally their supporters
to stop attacking each other especially on social media.
Kyagulanyi said, coming together is the only option for
them if they are to defeat President Museveni in 2021. He was speaking during a
campaign christened, ‘No, Nedda', which is aimed at showing dissatisfaction
over how the government has handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a document read by the Lord Mayor of Kampala,
Erias Lukwago and the Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, the vast
majority of Ugandans are under great suffering because of the measures brought
about by the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
The opposition called upon all the Ugandans who are hungry,
those still held home as restrictions on their businesses persist and all those
who are dissatisfied with the current government, to drum whatever items they
can every day at 1 pm to show their anger towards the government.
Besigye said it has never been more important to work
together than now.
“This is a wonderful moment in the history of our country
that we can say from here let the whole country unite to say enough is enough.
Our country is deeply divided…what we are doing today is giving direction to
the marginalized people,” Besigye said.
He said Museveni has for the last three months of the
COVID-19 lockdown done everything there is in the book to bring the people of
Uganda to the brink of destruction.
"I thank my brother here and all the people of the
People Power movement for the patience and commitment to the liberation of this
country. That has made it possible for both our parties to come together and to
join together in this hall here today. This is a wonderful, wonderful, moment
for our country. We have 90% or more of our people totally marginalised. From
tomorrow at lunchtime, anybody who is hungry, raise your voice tomorrow. Hit
your empty saucepan, you blow your whistle, make the noise that you can make to
show the country that this country belongs to us." added Besigye.
Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi expressed dismay at the
contradictions, attacks and counter-attacks amongst the different opposition
groups adding that at such a time, uniting is the only option, to defeat the
common enemy.
“We know our enemy and the enemy of Uganda that’s Museveni
and his regime. So the more we fight against each other, we are delaying the
change that we want. This country is bigger than your principals’ it belongs to
all of us; it can only change when we put our efforts together,” Kyagulanyi
said.
While calling on all his supporters to rally behind them
and push in the same direction, Kyagulanyi observed that leaders can only see
the way and show others the direction, but we must work together to reduce the
period of oppression for Ugandans.
"For the masses that have been calling upon our
unification, yes we have been working together. We have been talking… and this
that we’re doing today is just yet another step into the right direction. To
our supporters out there we see the contradictions, we see the attacks and
counter-attacks and we want this to be a practical message to you out there. To
know that we’re not each other’s enemies. We know our enemy. We know the enemy
of Uganda and that is Museveni and his regime of national shame. The more we
fight against each other, the more we delay the change that Ugandans so
desperately want." he added.
This is the second time that the two principals demonstrate the will to work together. The first was late last year when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to cease any form of attack against each other. This did not hold for the supporters especially on social media who continued exchanging barbs against each other. - Africa
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