By Stephen Bwire
A new campaign video has gone viral on social media which captures Dr Kizza Besigye, former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader and four-time presidential contender praising his commander-in-chief-turned-nemesis as “visionary, intelligent and strategic thinker.”
The video, which has been released as a commercial by the NRM Media Team sourced from last year’s exclusive interview with a local TV journalist, captures Besigye as thus: “Museveni is a strategic thinker and visionary in the way he does his things. He constantly looks far ahead, and this is what has kept him in power. He is focused, and very intelligent. Even when you meet him for the very first time, he is able to read through your mind and know exactly how to deal with you and apply you.”
He continues, “Museveni doesn’t underestimate anyone, he doesn’t take chances. This is what makes him strong. He is one man who knows what he wants.”
In the same video, which has been reviewed over 3million times, Besigye challenges the Opposition to emulate Museveni, and says that none of the Opposition figures measures up to Museveni’s strong qualities.
“The Opposition is yet to produce someone who thinks like Museveni, most of our Opposition leaders are seriously wanting in this respect. Let’s try to look beyond our petty politics and ambition if we are to dislodge the current regime out of power.”
Previous praises
This is not the first time the FDC founder leader is heard praising Museveni. It’s worth remembering that early last year, at a wedding ceremony in Kiruhura District, as he delved into Uganda’s liberation history, the Bush War physician attracted murmurs when he told the shocked audience that “no one loves President Museveni more than him [Besigye], and that “those who purport to love him [Museveni] are doing so not out of heart, but out of greed.”
He said: “I hear people saying that they love Museveni, what they forget is that some of us love him more since we risked everything including our lives to join Mr Museveni to the bush. I was working as a medical doctor in Nairobi where I earned too much money and lived a comfortable life, but left all that to join Mr Museveni’s cause for freedom in the bushes of Luwero. So, who should love Museveni more, the ones who risked their lives together with Museveni, or the ones who are hiding behind him to greedily enrich themselves with the trappings of power?”
At the same function, Besigye hailed Museveni for the stellar performance in securing Uganda’s borders, but quickly added that accomplishments in peace and security shouldn’t mean that the country is on a democratic lane. “There is no denying the fact that Mr Museveni has done well when it comes to issues of security. I agree with him [Museveni] when he says that Uganda is experiencing real peace in the last 500 years. But what should Ugandans expect beyond peace? Shall Ugandans eat peace?” What Ugandans want is to live in a democratic world where they can freely exercise their God-given democratic rights without State hindrance, this is what we fought for. Ugandans want a country where there is equal social justice; where the children of the poor will compete evenly with the children of the rich; where systems and institutions are fully functional and working to deliver public goods and services to the satisfaction of the wananchi, a system which works for all, not just a system which works for a few. This is what I mean when I talk about Museveni beyond nominal achievements of peace and security.”
Besigye would again praise Museveni months later. While meeting a select delegation of FDC leaders and supporters from Kitgum District at his John Akibua office in Nakasero, Besigye hailed Museveni for the latter’s visionary leadership, and called on Opposition leaders to emulate the man who has recently told-off the Opposition leaders that he is not about to leave power until Africa achieves her total strategic interests in security and freedom.
Besigye continued his Museveni-praise address to his guests some of whom were utterly shocked at his pronouncements, calling on Museveni, who will have ruled for 35 years by 2021, to leave power before he is booted out by forces of change: “The world is replete with leaders who have done exceptionally well just like Mr Museveni, and have left power. Why can’t Museveni leave power?”
It’s worth noting that Museveni has often reminded those challenging his hold on power that he [Museveni] is not about to relinquish power to people seeking to enrich their CVs with descriptions such as “eyaliko pulesidenti” (former president).
Remarks anger guests
One of the guests who couldn’t hide his disappointment at Besigye’s praise for Museveni charged: “I couldn’t believe my ears that it was Besigye praising Museveni. I don’t see much of what Museveni has done to warrant such applause, even the strategic visionary thinking he [Besigye] is talking about, I don’t see it. Instead Museveni’s vision is to die in power.”
The guest continued: “Besigye’s change of tone towards Museveni suggests that the man has lost hope of ever taking power in this country, and he talks like one who is utterly defeated and dejected.”
Another delegate speaking on condition of anonymity wondered if Besigye and Museveni haven’t been playing political gimmicks from the time the two went separate ways in the last 20 years. “I think these two gentlemen just came up with their own game of confusing Ugandans, what I see and from what I have heard from Besigye’s remarks is that the two are one and the same.”
Lost influence
Besigye’s praise-tone for his nemesis comes at a time his political fortunes and influence has increasingly come under threat by the emergence of other political formations and new kids on the block including presidential candidate also Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. Analysts would opine that this could be the reason as to why Besigye opted to stay out of the current presidential contestation, instead telling Ugandans that he has “Plan B”.
New face of Uganda’s Opposition
Bobi Wine has swiftly emerged from the ghettoes as the new face of Uganda’s opposition politics, quickly eclipsing old-timers including Dr Kizza Besigye, Mugisha Muntu, Nobert Mao, and among others.
According to analysts, Bobi Wine represents a new movement largely comprised of young people who know nothing about Uganda’s history, and who would only care about food on table.
“The young people are looking for alternatives to the change movement, they have been following and supporting Besigye and other politicians, but without much results. So with Bobi Wine, they see one who understands their plight and shares their story since he has been one of them,” says a Makerere University political don, who faults Bobi Wine for coming out too early without the requisite political experience.
Smooth sail for Museveni
With a seemingly dejected Besigye, a weak and divided Opposition each fronting their own candidate in the presidential race, analysts say Museveni will with much ease win these elections and cement his position as Uganda’s longest serving president, and among the world’s longest serving leaders.
Some analysts say that Bobi Wine is no more than a mere side-show commanding a movement of urban young people most of who won’t turn up to vote.
