According to news coming from the Najjanakumbi based Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, four time presidential candidate Dr. Kiizza Besigye will not be fronted as presidential flag bearer.
President Museveni’s former personal doctor while in the bush has been the only person FDC has fronted as a presidential flag bearer ever since it was founded in 2005.
Former Army Commander Gen Mugisha Muntu is the only ‘worthwhile’ person who has challenged Dr Besigye for the party ticket before he left to form his own political party known as the the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
The news of Besigye not contesting for president was revealed by FDC Gen Secretary Nathan Nandara Mafabi.
Pressed on whether he thought Dr Besigye could change his mind, Hon Mafabi said: “That is a personal decision”.
The same was confirmed by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon. Betty Aol Ocan.
The possibility of Dr Besigye not running for president has therefore, caused unease within FDC, which is fast running out of time to find a replacement they consider suitable for the task.
It should be remembered that it is not the first time FDC is sweating about Dr. Besigye’s presidential candidature, in the run up to the 2011 election, Dr Besigye was still coy about running for president, saying that his candidature would only be based on the electoral system being reformed.
In 2010 before the 2011 elections, Dr. Besigye said “No reforms, No election. We would rather fight before the election (to cause reforms) instead of fighting after the election.”
He however bounced back to contest despite no reforms by the Electoral Commission.
Whereas Dr Besigye has continued his activism against President Museveni, he has continued to dismiss the ability of elections to cause change.
In 2016 after the elections, he declared himself as the winner and president of Uganda in a private ceremony. He was arrested and charged with treason and wanting to over throw the constitution by declaring himself the president.
Following remarks by FDC’s spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju that FDC shall not unite with anybody, it remains questionable on who might carry FDC’s flag once Dr. Besigye finally bows out.
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