By Timothy Nsubuga

18^th April 2011:- THE ‘Walk-to-Work’ protests that kicked off on April 11^th and rocked large parts of the country marked the beginning of “a new liberation struggle” [by the people of Uganda] against Museveni’s economic incompetence, brutality, and tyranny; a top political analyst has declared.

In an exclusive interview with Uganda Correspondent, the US based Ugandan political science Professor who requested not to be named said he firmly believes that for the first time, Uganda’s opposition leaders have picked on and “made a meal” of something that resonates with all Ugandans and cuts across the political divide.

“…Perhaps for the very first time the opposition has picked on and made a meal out of something [high fuel and food prices] that every Ugandan recognises.  In fact Ugandans not only recognise it, they feel it on a daily basis as they try to survive and raise their families.  What is a man worth if he can’t afford to feed his family?  And if he finds that he can’t, he will do anything to make sure he does; and that has manifested itself in the bravery of the protesters we say last week”, said the Professor.

The University don said he was particularly shocked by the bravery showed by opposition leaders like Norbert Mao, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Nandala Mafabi, Salaam Musumba, and Beatrice Anywar among many others who responded to the call to ‘Walk-to-Work’ made by ‘Activists for Change’.

“…If I was an active Ugandan opposition activist or even supporter, I would have been very energised by the bravery of the leaders.  In fact, we all saw how ordinary Ugandans responded to Besigye’s defiance.  That is unlikely to stop because I think Ugandans have been pushed to the wall for 25yrs and they seem to have had enough.  I would be very worried if I was Museveni”, the Professor said.

FDC Party President Dr. Kizza Besigye was reported in the media last week to have said that he is prepared to die for the cause of freedom in Uganda.  The FDC boss is also quoted to have added that no amount of intimidation is going to stop him from demanding and asserting his fundamental human rights.  Quoting the legendary revolutionary Che Guevara during his interview with this reporter, Dr. Besigye said, “…As Che Guevara once said, I don’t care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting”.

How do you deal with a man who is prepared to die for a cause that he passionately believes in, the Professor wondered? “…It is a dilemma that has troubled world leaders for decades.  In fact, if the world had an answer to that, there would be no suicide bombers in the world.  But it doesn’t.  So if Besigye’s courage rubs off on a few more Ugandans as it seems to be doing, then Museveni has a big problem on his hands”, the don added.

Liberation struggle launched on ‘Liberation Day’

The political science Professor also pointed out the political and symbolic significance of the fact that the ‘Walk-to-Work’ protests were launched on April 11^th, the 32^nd anniversary of the day in 1979 when Ugandans [with the help of the Tanzanian Peoples Defence Forces] finally liberated themselves from Idi Amin’s murderous regime.

“…I don’t know whether it was by accident or design.  But whatever it was, I think the fact that ‘Activists for Change’ launched their ‘Walk-to-Work’ campaign on April 11^th, the anniversary of Uganda’s earlier liberation from Idi Amin’s dictatorship, carries great political symbolism and significance for their cause”, the Professor said.

He added that, “…with a few examples, they [the opposition] can easily claim that the same conditions that forced Ugandans to embark of the liberation struggle that ended on 11^th April 1979 exist today.  It would be very difficult to argue with that because we all know that human beings, especially the very tolerant Ugandans, don’t resort to desperate means lightly.  Something must have gone seriously wrong for them to rise up; and they have now risen up.  That should tell us something”, the Professor said.

FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye agrees

When asked by this reporter what he thought of the Professor’s views, Dr. Kizza Besigye, the FDC Party President [who was shot by the regime’s brutal military police officers and wounded in the arm on the second day of the ‘Walk-to-Work’ last week] appeared to agree.

He added that, “…no dictatorship is without an end.  April 11^th 1979 was the day H.E. Life President Field Martial Dr Idi Amin Dada VC, DSO, MC, Conqueror of the British Empire, was deposed!  It’s also the day Ivorian dictator Laurent Gbagbo was captured from the hole where he had hidden after being overwhelmed on the battle ground.  It’s therefore not a bad day to launch the ‘Activists for Change’ struggle”, Besigye said.

The FDC leader further said, “…our people are tired of living in abject poverty; they are tired of having hospitals that don’t have doctors and drugs; they are tired of losing loved ones on bad roads; and they are tired of this regime’s corruption, oppression and brutality.  The tipping point has arrived; and the time is absolutely right.  Change is coming to Uganda”, Besigye said confidently.

Generals Aronda and Kayihura engaged in futile struggle

Turning to the varied roles played by Uganda’s security chiefs in dealing with the ‘Walk-to-Work’ protest campaign, the US based Ugandan Professor singled out Army Commander Aronda Nyakairima and Inspector General of Police Maj. General Kale Kayihura for particular blame and warning.

“…Generals Aronda and Kayihura would do well to realise now that they are engaged in a futile campaign of brutality to keep Museveni in power.  They cannot shoot 33million Ugandans if they [Ugandans] decide to walk to their destinations every day.  How do you stop people from walking?  It is as ridiculous as the Malawian law that bans people from farting in public.  The world cannot tolerate such archaic oppression today.  If they continue, they will end up at the ICC.  I can bet my house on that”, the Professor said.

A joint security taskforce comprising of police officers and the army’s dreaded military police brutally fought running battles with thousands of protesters who responded to a call to ‘Walk-to-Work’ made by ‘Activists for Change’, a new political pressure group.

A montage of the ‘Walk-to-Work’ battles can be viewed by clicking on the link below courtesy of NTV Uganda:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ntvuganda#p/search/0/5ReMRNAxkE4

In his reaction to the ‘Walk-to-Work’ protests however, President Museveni promised to stop Dr. Besigye from demonstrating in Kampala again and urged those who want to protest to seek permission from the police.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.