By Timothy Nsubuga

13^th June 2011:

Dr Besigye is back: Are we going to see more of this?

Forum for Democratic Change [FDC] party President Dr. Kizza Besigye has returned to the country with renewed determination to ‘resuscitate’ the struggle for freedom and democracy in Uganda that was beginning to lose momentum after he left the country two weeks ago.

Dr. Besigye had travelled to the US to get special medical attention for the severe injuries he sustained to his eyes and body as he was violently arrested by security operatives on 28^th April 2011.  On his way back to Uganda, Dr. Besigye made a brief stop-over in London-United Kingdom to, as he put it, “meet some people” before boarding his Entebbe bound flight in the evening.

This is not Besigye’s personal struggle

Speaking to this reporter upon his return yesterday morning, Dr. Besigye also called upon the people of Uganda to own their struggle for freedom and democracy.  “…I know the regime would be very happy if one of its men eliminated me.  But they have made a terrible miscalculation.  Eliminating me will never solve the problem because Uganda’s problems are much bigger than Besigye’s demand for his constitutional right to walk-to-work”, Besigye said amidst a hearty fit of laughter.

The FDC leader also tried to “de-personalise” the struggle for democracy in Uganda.  “…This is not Besigye’s struggle, it never has been, and will never be.  This is the people’s struggle for their own God given right to live in a free and democratic society.  Our people must therefore realise that they must own this struggle and make painful sacrifices for it because that will force them to resist any attempts to reverse their hard-earned democratic gains in future”, the FDC leader advised.

I would rather die than surrender

Asked whether he would consider giving up the struggle as his party Spokesman Hon. Wafula Oguttu seemed to suggest when he declared that FDC was pulling out of the ‘walk-to-work’ campaign, Dr. Besigye was resolute, saying he would rather die than surrender.     

“…First of all, let me make one thing absolutely clear.  As a party, FDC has never been part of the ‘walk-to-work’ campaign.  So we cannot pull out of something we have never been a part of.  What is true is that individual FDC members joined the ‘walk-to-work’ campaign called by ‘Activists for Change’.  Like thousands of my fellow countrymen and women, I also joined and participated as a mere activist.  Now to address your question specifically, surrendering is not an option for me.  I would rather die than give up the struggle for freedom and democracy in our country”, Besigye said.

As far as his recovery from the injuries he sustained is concerned, the FDC leader said he is optimistic about his hand.  “…My hand should heal soon but I am still waiting for the results of other tests”, Besigye said.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.