Former president of Forum for Democratic change (FDC), Dr. Kizza Besigye yesterday announced that he would not be running for the country’s highest office again.
However, he went on to reassure Ugandans that he would not give up on the struggle to liberate the country. “We are at the crossroads when the junta is organising elections to legitimize themselves.
In 2016, I was engaging two gears, one for elections and another for defiance/fighting. That is not very efficient,” he said.
He went on and added that; “Election gears are our Plan A, the fighting gears are our plan B. And Plan B is quite wide and involving. It’s my humble decision that I have intensively discussed with my colleagues that we get some body to lead Plan A and you leave Plan B for me.”
The Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Ambassador Wasswa Birigwa are the only two candidates who who picked forms and will vie for the position.
Besigye said the Presidential candidate will pursue “Plan A” while he executes “Plan B” which he believes is very critical in weakening and causing the fall of Museveni junta.
“If we felt that moving with both plans is most effective, may be we would have considered it, but trust my judgement,” Besigye said.
He noted this country will not be freed by Electoral Commission declaring a new winner who isn’t president Museveni.
“Those who are waiting that Mr. Museveni will one day come and thank Ugandans for all the things that we have done for him, he will never do so”, Besigye said.
Although Besigye said Plan B will support Plan A, he called on all forces of change to join the fight.
“ We are building a strong front for change. It is our duty to make sure Mr. Museveni leaves, whether he wants it or not. That duty is very urgent”, he said, adding; “The fight is on. You must listen to Channel/Plan A and Channel/Plan B. Plan B will support plan A fully.”
Besigye said it’s the fighters that will determine where the country goes saying “all fighters can vote, but not all voters can fight.”
Besigye also showed his vote of confidence in the party leaders present, and endorsing Amuriat and Birigwa vying for the party flag.
“I have high confidence in our leaders here today. Omulongo Wasswa Birigwa is not new to the challenges of Plan A. He has been in the trenches in the country here and abroad as an Ambassador. He is has networks that we need at this critical moment,” Besigye said about Birigwa.
For Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Besigye said “I don’t need to talk much about our president, the one and only. He has been in National politics for decades, and there is no corner of this country that he doesn’t know. He also had experience in public service,” he said.
“Amuriat is also a quiet and decisive person. Some people mistake his demeanor as being a push over. Well, those who tried know how it ended. If there are people out there who underestimate him, think again because he is full of surprises,” he added.
He said Amuriat came from humble situations and finds a general, Former commander of armed forces leading a strong party, and in short time things change, is not a mean achievement.”
Besigye said Amuriat doesn’t command from behind but commands from the front.
“In a short time things change, it’s no mean achievement. I have absolutely have no doubt that POA fits the bill. The few years he has been in charge of the party, he has never left the front line. Wherever there has been a tough area, POA has been there.”
