The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party spokesperson, Ibrahim Semujju Nganda has refuted allegations that Col Dr. Kizza Besigye has already pronounced as unopposed party presidential flag-bearer.
This follows Amuriat’s remarks that Besigye will not be contested if he considers himself for the party ticket in 2021.
He (Amuriat) said though the party has set nomination dates to pick presidential flag-bearer, the party executive committee has already determined that the process will only happen if Dr. Besigye is no longer interested in the contest to end president Yoweri Museveni’s rule in the next election.
But Semujju has deferred with his boss saying the party process must be respected as per the party constitution.
Sources within FDC have told this reporter that over the last year, the party has grappled with the possibility of Besigye not being its presidential flag bearer in 2021.
We have been told that various delegations have trekked to Kasangati trying to lure the man from Rwakabengo, in Rukungiri, to contest again.
Sources told us that Besigye has always insisted in the meetings that he is not interested in the mere formality of being the party’s flag bearer.
“He says the political and electoral system is rotten and under the current circumstances elections can’t be an avenue to change it,” said one of the people knowledgeable about the meetings.
It is the same position Besigye held in the run up to the 2016 elections only that he later changed his mind after some urging from senior party officials. That is why some are still clinging onto some hope that he could similarly change his mind.
For the time being, however, there is a stalemate.
Besigye, we have been told, also appears to have gotten tired of the talk that his presence on the scene has “blocked” other politicians from emerging within the opposition ranks.
While he has often rubbished this talk, he knows that even lie that is repeated often may start to sound like the truth.
One thing he has made clear from the meetings is that he will always be involved in the struggle for political reform.
Without Besigye on the ballot, some party officials fear that the party would perform dismally at the polls or even go into political oblivion.
As founding party president, Besigye has over the years embodied the political struggle with his “never give up spirit and dare-devil attitude.”
Besigye’s daredevil attitude has inspired many leaders
Indeed, partly because of his activism, NRM government has been forced to make some political concessions.
“We could go the same way like DP and UPC which lost steam after their influential leaders stepped down,” said the official predicting what would happen if Besigye opted not to stand again.
“They exist in name but they are not competitive.”
The official said would give Museveni and NRM psychological victory and would make
There are officials in FDC who believe that Besigye’s absence from the ballot would present the party with the biggest opportunity to move out of his shadow and recreate itself.
There have been suggestions that politicians like Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who joined the party recently or other senior leaders can pick up the mantle from Besigye.
Yet given the small time frame left, the party is scrambling to give the 2021 presidential election the best shot it has got.
