The newly elected interim president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Besigye’s Katonga camp who also doubles as the Kampala city Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago has confirmed that he is going to use the six month period given to him to intensify his battle for change which includes putting an end to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s long rule.
Lukwago was declared interim president of FDC in the highly contested Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference summoned by the party national chairperson Wasswa Birigwa.
In the meeting held at Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Katonga road offices, Patrick Amuriat Oboi the previous president was suspended and he was replaced with Lukwago.
A resolution was also passed that Amuriat be subjected to investigation on allegation of receiving billions of shillings from President Museveni’s government, funds he used to facilitate his 2021 campaigns.
Amuriat will be investigated together with the party Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi and party treasurer Geoffrey Ekanya on the same allegation.
However, it should be clear that early this year, FDC party elders committee chaired by Dr. Frank Nabwiso exonerated the accused persons in their report which was trashed by Dr. Besigye and his colleagues.
In his statement, Lukwago told journalists at Katonga immediately after being declared interim FDC leader that he is going to make sure that he builds links with other political forces of change to make sure that Museveni’s government is overthrown before 2026.
Highly placed sources in Dr. Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that Besigye and his team are anxiously waiting for National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine’s decision on the offer they delivered to him to change his political strategy in the fight against Museveni.
Sources said that Besigye’s team proposed to Bobi Wine that they should join hands and restore defiance campaigns including demonstrations against what they called President Museveni’s bad leadership especially on failing to solve the problem of the bad economy.
Sources claim that in one of the meetings, Besigye assured Bobi Wine that the political ground is currently very fertile because most Ugandans have already started feeling government’s failure to solve their economic problems in their pockets and many are ready for protests.
Sources added that Besigye was supposed to meet Bobi Wine immediately after concluding his countrywide political tour but the meeting did not take place because Bobi Wine quickly traveled to Canada to meet his supporters in the diaspora and hold music shows.
Sources said that after Canada, Bobi Wine is expected to cross to the United States of America and conclude his international political tour in South Africa.
In all these places, he will make political consultations and music shows.
A ticket to attend his music show is between $300-$500 dollars and a table is between $1500 and $2000 dollars.
Bobi Wine’s political assistant and also the Lubaga Division NUP youth leader explained to theGrapevine that the reason why his boss traveled abroad is because he wants to consult them on how to restructure the political struggle against Museveni.
“Our Principal respects all Ugandans. Those here and abroad and he is very sure that with them, political change is possible here. Those people in the diaspora play a big role especially financially and we saw this in the 2021 presidential campaigns. The Principal values their views,” Katongole said.
Source added that Bobi Wine travelled with his wife Barbra Itungo Kyagulanyi, party spokesperson and also Nakawa West legislator Joel Ssenyonyi, Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya among others.
He is expected to meet his international funders and political strategists. Sources further explained that Bobi Wine is expected to base on the advice he will get from his consultations abroad to answer Besigye’s proposal on whether to join his defiance or not.
Wakiso district woman Member of Parliament Betty Naluyima revealed that once Bobi Wine returns back into the country, the party will release guidelines on the second phase of their tours.
“The concluded countrywide tour was very successful because we woke up our people and now they know what to do. Police cannot guide us on what to do because it is clear that we have to just inform them about our political programs,” Naluyima said.
She further revealed that they have started compiling a list of people holding top government offices including those running authorities, agencies and in security to prove the statements Bobi Wine made while in Luwero district that president Museveni’s government promotes and practices tribalism and Nepotism.
However, sources in Besigye’s camp told theGrapevine that they are ready to join Bobi Wine in his next phase of political campaign especially on defying police’s orders stopping Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tour.
Senior presidential advisor on media Joseph Tamale Mirundi recently warned security that Bobi Wine, Lukwago and Besigye’s political coalition is going to be very deadly this time.
He explained that it was not a mistake for Besigye to support Lukwago in his quest to become FDC’s interim leader.
He added that he wants to test him to examine whether he has learnt the politics of defiance which he has been teaching him.
He added that because Lukwago wants to prove to his mentor and the entire opposition is determined to lead the fight against Museveni, he is going to be very determined once Bobi Wine accepts to join him, and Kampala will be on fire.
“Very soon you’re going to hear that Lukwago and Bobi Wine are going to talk to business people in Kisekka market to establish their problems since he is Kampala Lord Mayor and if police stops them, they will use force to get there,” Mirundi said.
During his tour in Luwero, Bobi Wine mobilized his supporters to use whatever means possible to fight Museveni and overthrow his government.
Fred Enanga the police spokesperson claims that Bobi Wine and his NUP supporters have been provoking them in their recent countrywide tours because they wanted police to attack them so that they can cause commotion and get news headlines.
He revealed that police leadership ordered policemen to supervise Bobi Wine’s countrywide political tours but cautioned them to make sure that they don’t fall into Bobi Wine’s trap once provoked.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
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