When I peer into a not-too-distant future, I worry that Gen Yoweri Museveni and co. are not ready for the rude awakening that it is not them that held Uganda together, but Dr Kizza Besigye.
Sadly, by the time this awakening happens, they might be running for dear lives, seeking the easiest route out of Uganda. I know, this is a difficult proposition I am making, not only because Kizza Besigye holds no official position and has neither guns nor access to Bank of Uganda.
But because folks in power and their crumbs-eating surrogates cannot even countenance the theoretical truth that the oppressed play a part in their governance – especially through the choices of their modes of resistance.
I can hear hangers-on growling: “How does a man with nothing be what this so-called scholar is claiming? How could a man we could throw in jail whenever we want – and could have eliminated if we so wanted – be the one holding the country together? These scholars can be too academic!”
But first, we ought to appreciate the fact that Dr Kizza Besigye holds incredible amounts of power in the hearts and minds of Ugandans. He is the quintessential model for resistance: dogged, consistent, incorruptible, resilient. Democrat. A true patriot. Unbeknownst to our oppressors is that torturing him has given Uganda the opportunity to appreciate Kizza Besigye more – fall in love with him once again and also look back at his sacrifices.
Again, I worry that by the time our friends running the proverbial ‘deep state’ – CMI, ISO, JATT, UPDF, SFC, State House, and all of them – come to understand the place Dr Kizza Besigye occupies in our politics, the country might be burning or on the brink of burning. Let me try to explain just a small part of Besigye’s position in our safety and stability for the last 30 years.
A RADICAL BUT DEMOCRAT ABSOLUTIST
It is everyone’s prayer that Dr Besigye stays healthy and well. But this prayer ought to matter more to folks in government. Because in death – especially in their hands and not from benign natural causes – not only will the safeguards Col Besigye offered the country die with him, but also the voice that he embodied will be louder than ever before.
An articulate medical professional who participated in armed struggle in his prime and later committed his adult political career to democratic struggles, Besigye carries with him the dreams and aspirations of many Ugandans.
On the one hand, (a) Besigye has endlessly called Ugandans to revolutionary action – and continues to this moment and will even in death and, on the other, (b) he has been the voice of moderation sworn to returning Uganda to a democratic act.
In fact, the often-whispered accusation that Besigye works for Museveni actually means this man has single-handedly held the country together. I will explain on. Appearing in the now defunct General Court Martial early this year, Besigye refused to plead anything – guilty or not guilty – in a thing he deemed not a court for civilians.
In turn, this intensified pressure on the judiciary to hasten hearing the application on whether the court martial was a lawfully- constituted thing. In this, KB gave the judiciary the opportunity to free themselves – one opportunity they grabbed with both hands.
In the process, they shattered Museveni’s “democratic delusion” or democratic façade. Presently, Museveni has challenged his technical workers – specifically Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka – to figure out how to disrespect the Supreme court judgment – constitutionally, democratically.
They haven’t yet. By going on hunger strike, Besigye has denied this Museveni cabal breathing space. In deciding to punish his own body, Dr Kizza Besigye has taken another bullet for the country – and has called on the country to fight.
And the country is responding in earnest – because he has been there for the country a great many times. By choosing to starve his body – not pick up arms and harm other bodies – he has invited us to reclaim its dignity. Because our bodies have been humiliated for too long.
BESIGYE HOLDING UGANDA TOGETHER
If there are any lessons to take from the violence and anger that defined the 2007 Mabira forest protests, and later 2009 Kayunga riots, it is that in the aftermaths of the 2006 and 2011 presidential elections – which were themselves violent – would have ended in tearing Uganda apart.
These riots are evidence of the smouldering anger and pain in the country, and the hushed but palpable calls for violent rebellion against Yoweri Museveni. But the opposition stalwart was the more reflective Ugandan, and former bush war veteran, Col Dr Kizza Besigye. Believed to have won these two elections hands-down, and being the most loved politician in the country with absolute cult following, it had to be Col Besigye to beat the war drums.
However, despite the direct violent attacks (the Mulago roundable incident almost blinded him), abductions and imprisonment (28 times then – now over 60); murder of relatives (Musasizi Kifefe), Col Besigye refused to sanction armed struggle.
This refusal was not because of the fear that armed rebellion might not end in victory, but because violence would result in a lot of bloodshed. Had he been unreflective and selfish like the 1980s Yoweri Museveni, who even came last in the 1980 election, Uganda would not have been the same.
In his unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and peaceful negotiations, Col Besigye opted for legal proceedings and street demonstrations. He lost on both fronts: court ruled to stay Museveni’s victories on both occasions and the walk-to-work protests were quickly quashed, and banging pans never picked steam.
Dear reader, it ought not to be lost that Besigye’s choices of struggle have sadly benefited Museveni, but most importantly benefited Uganda. The country is still together. Look, violence looked more attractive – and a surer way to unsettling Museveni – but Besigye chose peace. Had he been blinded by a ‘by-all- mean-necessary’ approach and chosen violence – even in failure – Uganda would be in a worse state that is now.
Thus, his tormentors ought to be aware that this victim is actually their hero. We have braved through a crude autocracy without destroying the country – thanks to him. To fully appreciate Col Besigye’s democratic stance, even in moments of immense humiliation and personal pain, you have to look elsewhere: had he been Somalia’s Farah Aideed or Sudan’s Mohamad Hamdan Dagalo; Uganda’s Joseph Kony or the lanky 1980s Yoweri Museveni (without M16 support), we would be writing a different story.
Sadly – and this is even more painful – Yoweri Museveni and team are convinced we believe them when they claim that at his advanced age and haggard frame, Kizza Besigye finally got persuaded to embark on armed struggle. This is nonsense. The saddest part is that they do not understand or are deliberately downplaying the effects of this man dying in their hands.
“What will they do?” the complacent arrogant voice tells them. They see all of us ordinary Ugandans emasculated – impoverished, threatened with death and jail and endlessly bribed – and thus incapable of anger and fighting back. They have not only failed to read the room but have also failed to read history: Idi Amin, Gaddafi, Mubarak, Bashir, Ali Bongo, Macky Sall, Mugabe, Siad Barre, Blaise Compaoré. This list is long.
Dear reader, for sure, daybreak is near – and thanks to Dr Kizza Besigye – but I worry that the milk might become sour.
The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.
Doc, thank you, indeed Besigye has gone the extra mile to fight for a fundamental change in Uganda but all in vain! It’s clear that he believes that the gun and violence are not the answer to bringing change to Uganda, however, peaceful means have also failed due to greed.
The other day I heard Kyagulanyi talking about the division amongst the opposition. Kyagulanyi said that some opposition figures say one thing about unity during elections time but mean something else. Kyagulanyi clearly stated that those opposition figures are selfish and don’t care about “changing the lives of others.”
Kyagulanyi made it abundantly clearly that “bogus elections” are meant to change the lives of Ugandans just like they have changed some people like Mpuuga, Senyonyi, Segona and other NUP members! In other words, Kyagulanyi believes that change in their livelihood is what matters but not a fundamental change in Uganda, which would benefit all Ugandans, which is what Besigye is fighting for.
Individual benefits is what motivates and drives Kyagulanyi and that’s why he came out swinging at Besigye and he belammed him for standing against M7 4 times and lost and claimed that there’s not democracy in Uganda!
Greed of Individual success, Kyagulanyi and NUP members have achieved, especially MPs, is what has completely decapitated and/or despaired all hope for ever realizing a fundamental change through peaceful means.
Besigye has tried it all as you, Doc, have clearly illustrated it in the above article. He has gone to the extent of hunger strike, however, Kyagulanyi/NUP are hell bent on bogus elections in which M7, his family, relatives, tribesmen, militants and a handful of opposition figures like Kyagulanyi, Mao, Mpuuga, Senyonyi, Segona and others individually benefit!
{[indeed Besigye has gone the extra mile to fight for a fundamental change in Uganda but all in vain! It’s clear that he believes that the gun and violence are not the answer to bringing change to Uganda, however, peaceful means have also failed due to greed.
Greed of Individual success, Kyagulanyi and NUP members have achieved, especially MPs, is what has completely decapitated and/or despaired all hope for ever realizing a fundamental change.
Besigye… has gone to the extent of hunger strike, however, Kyagulanyi/NUP are hell bent on bogus elections in which M7, his family, relatives, tribesmen, militants and a handful of opposition figures like Kyagulanyi, Mao, Mpuuga, Senyonyi, Segona and others individually benefit!}
Remase, thanks.
Next fake presidential election will only reaffirm how the fake opposition is bent on ensuring Rwandese Museveni’s lifetime rule, knowing only his son will replace him!
Just NO to the tribalistic system Rwandese Museveni so cleaverly put in place then UNITY will give Ugandans the POWER needed to stop him, then form the kind of governance they want!
Until that UNITY comes, any one pretending to be opposition leader is just ensuring Uganda belongs to Museveni & family legally, constitutionally, not to forget that these so called opposition leaders don’t know what having a country that belongs to them means!
Ugandans are far apart when Dr. Besigye is sacrificing his Happiness
Rukungiri naye