Opposition leaders from different opposition parties led by; National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Party (FDC) and JEEMA have signed a joint opposition statement about the alleged election malpractice in the country.

During a joint opposition press conference at Hotel Africana today, Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, who was the first speaker, started by analysing the Soroti by-elections where he noted that what they witnessed in Soroti is despicable.

“On the eve of elections, over 100 leaders who had been deployed to man the electoral process were arrested and detained,” he said adding that some were detained as far as Dokolo and Bukedea district, including the party President.

Lukwago added that various polling stations were raided in Soroti; there was open bribery, agents were picked and returned after the conclusion of the voting exercise only to sign the declaration forms.

He contended, “At some polling stations, the residue material was pre-ticked in favour of Herbert Edmund Ariko.

“The criminality that was committed in Soroti East was done before cameras. There was no shame at all on the part of the regime to orchestrate this broad day thuggery.

“We reject the results of the Soroti East by-election, and it doesn’t reflect the will of the people.

“It does not in any way meet the standards of the Constitution, and as we said earlier on, it is a mockery of democracy.”

He further noted that going forward, they insist that the provisions of Article 3 give them a clear way forward on what they should be doing.

“We state that what happened in Soroti is treasonable.”

Speaking at the conference, four-time candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye agreed with colleagues noting that Uganda is in the middle of one of the worst social-economic crisis and almost every person, save for those whom they united to work against, is in a crisis of survival.

He added, “As people are starving, nearly UGX 2 billion has been appropriated to be spent on one family of Mr. Museveni.

“The struggle that the country must undertake is to regain power and influence. To shift power from those who captured it to those who don’t have it.

“Elections will not shift power from those who captured it with guns to the people of Uganda.”

Besigye disclosed that all the things that were done in the Kayunga, Omoro, and Soroti East by- elections were illegal and it is not that there is a bad Constitution or bad laws, it is that there is impunity.

“Those with power override whatever law is there. They do what they want.”

Besigye roared that the way to get back their power is to unite all of them and the population to be rallied together.

He maintained, “Once that happens, I’m very excited that I can see it now beginning to happen.

“Even if we said that let all of us do this, this regime has no capacity to stop it.

“The people must reclaim their power by action.”

Besigye also noted that he is very excited with the unity because they are witnessing all true patriots.

NUP president, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine also roared that they cannot pretend not to see that Museveni organizes elections, but in real sense, organizes a fight where he is over-equipped, and they (opposition) are zero equipped.

He noted, “I want to send messages to three types of people. First, my fellow leaders from different political parties and formations.

“I think the time has come to change our message and be more realistic to the electorate.

“We go into the elections promising change, even when we know that when one becomes an MP, under the Museveni regime, apart from agitating, we can change very little.

“It is my considered view that our message is more of a revolutionary message.”

Bobi Wine stated that he thinks the election should be more for sensitization than for winning.

“In any case, we know that Museveni decides days, sometimes months, who the winner will be.”

He divulged that they have made it easy for Museveni by fighting each other which has changed their targets from the enemy to each other.

Kyagulanyi insisted that this country is bigger than their political parties and the mission is bigger than building their political parties.

“In any case, one would argue that there are no political parties in Uganda because we do not operate like political parties.”

He added that political parties are recognized in a democracy, but in a country where one cannot even organize as political parties, they cannot boast of being political parties.

“Therefore, we are all slaves. The more we fight against each other, the more we prolong it for Museveni,” he said.

He vocalized, “We leaders have made an effort to unite for a common cause, but we are only leaders, and if you don’t follow us where we are going, we won’t succeed. Please get involved.”

Among other leaders who addressed the press was Bugiri Municipality member of parliament, Asuman Basalirwa who also noted that his presence is to confirm that as Justice Forum fully supports the statement that has been read and signed by leaders of political.

“We commit to fully abide by the letter and spirit of the document,” he confirmed.

Basalirwa added that it is now absolutely clear that Mr. Museveni and the NRM are provoking Ugandans.

“When you see what happened in Soroti, Kayunga, and Omoro, it is total provocation. These provocations are deliberate and are intended to send a message.”

In conclusion, Leader of Opposition (LOP), Mathias Mpuuga explained that the representation of the different political party leaders summarizes the sentiments of the people and the frustrations of the leaders.

He stated, “Sometimes you can be joined together by your goals but also your frustrations.

“We are not aliens in this country. All of us have the capacity and ability to make this country a better country. We can summon our little energies to make them bigger by working together.”

By Kalamira Hope