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ELECTIONS
Kiiza Besigye intends to challenge Museveni in the 2001 elections
October 2000 ended on a good note. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda had played football with his Rwandan counterpart, just to emphasise perhaps that he is as fit as a fiddle, even in politics. But the star that lit the Uganda’s political sky was that of Dr Kiiza Besigye. He wants to stand as a presidential candidate, and intends to challenge Museveni’s hold on power for the last 15 years. He’s a serious contender among the seven candidates.
Besigye, aged 45 and a medical doctor, wants to conduct a thorough spring cleaning of the entire Movement «no party» system, and make it once again acceptable to everyone. He’s eloquent, independent minded and undeterred by his historic mission.
«We want internal democracy in the Movement so that all positions are electable», Besigye said. He also wants to work alongside those who support a multi-party system of government, so as to urge the government to open itself up to other political philosophies. He thinks that the continued suspension of political parties is not good, for it does not allow maturity in politics and a peaceful transfer of power.
Besigye has decided to run against Museveni in March 2001. Some supporters of a multiparty system of government cheer him on, saying that through him, multiparty politics could once again be re-introduced into Uganda. Yet to some Movement «big wigs», he’s a handicap. Besigye comes from western Uganda and the government fears he will split the region, which has been firmly behind Museveni who also comes from that region. Besigye thinks his mission is to serve both government and Museveni.
His intentions to run for Uganda’s presidency started on a humorous note. Besigye thinks that Museveni’s popularity (noted by a recent European Union study to be as high as 93%) is in fact a danger for Uganda. «The only place where there are no dissenting voices, is in a grave», Besigye says. His intention is not to do away with the Movement system, but to run it alongside believers in the multi-party system.
«Mr Clean»
Besigye’s track record has not been bad. He’s reckoned to be among the few supporters of the Movement system who have remained «clean». He was one of the architects of the Movement system, and was crucial in reorganising Uganda’s police force.
Besigye has caused a lot of excitement among people who feel that Museveni is moving towards the establishment of a «Presidential dynasty». Museveni, along with his lieutenants, has told the nation that he is bidding for another term in office so as to re-organise the army. The direction this «re-organisation» is taking is not very pleasant to some. A point in question is Museveni’s son who is seen to be a «rising star». 2nd Lt. Muhoozi Kianerugaba, 26, is now number three in the elite Presidential Protection Unit (PPU), having graduated from the prestigious British Sandhurst Military College. His meteoric rise is being noted with interest, especially now that Ugandan politics are still being influenced by the influence one has in the army.
Kianerugaba caused a storm in Parliament when he started recruiting University students to the army before he was even a soldier. Those selected have already undergone military training and have been deployed. Further suspicion was raised when Museveni told officer cadets who were graduating at the Infantry College, that they are Uganda’s future leaders. So, there’s enough ammunition for Museveni’s opponents to think that Museveni is perhaps grooming his son for a future political role.
People are wondering about Besigye’s intentions. Is he hoping to forge an alliance with Museveni, especially if there has to be a run-off in the presidential elections, or will he join with other party leaders to field one candidate? All will be revealed in the first quarter of 2001 when the government hopes to hold the elections.
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