Besigye: Why I Am Not Coming Back By BARBARA AMONG SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE EXILED leader of Uganda's Reform Agenda has ruled out returning to the country until President Yoweri Museveni meets certain conditions he has set. In a letter sent to the Reform Agenda in April, a copy of which The EastAfrican obtained last week, Col Kizza Besigye said the government must stop harassing the opposition as well as end unlawful arrests and detention by paramilitary groups such as the Internal Security Organisation, the External Security Organisation and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. "You may recall how I was personally targeted for harassment and how I miraculously survived being kidnapped by some military people at Lukaya in Masaka. It was after that incident that I decided to get out of the military confinement that had been woven around me and I left the country in order to continue the struggle," the letter says. Col Besigye, who went into exile three years ago, claiming that the government was threatening his life, says such security organs should be disbanded or restructured. The Reform Agenda comprises former supporters of the Movement who fell out with President Museveni. They include former justice and constitutional affairs minister Sam Njuba and Col Besigye's wife Winnie Byanyima. Reports appearing in the local media last week said diplomats in the country, together with officials of Reform Agenda, had been negotiating with the government to allow Col Besigye back into Uganda ahead of the 2006 presidential elections. Under the Political Parties and Other Organisations Act (POA), Col Besigye ought to have returned already because, to qualify to lead a party and campaign for the presidency, he has to have lived in the country for at least three years prior to the elections. Presidential elections will be held in 2006. However, the parties are protesting the clause, saying it was specifically designed to bar Col Besigye from contesting the elections. However, Nsaba Buturo, the government spokesman and Minister for Information in the Office of the President, told The EastAfrican that the government would not involve donors in the internal affairs of the country. "Donors have their interests, the government has its own interests and we should not entangle our internal politics with theirs. I cannot see how these friends of ours should come in and tell us to allow him back," said Dr Buturo. "His security is ensured like that of any other Ugandan citizen. He went into exile of his own free will and he can come back to the country any time he wishes. He can say what he wants but the government is willing to have him back any time," said Dr Buturo. He added that Col Besigye was making the conditions in order to justify his self-exile. Apart from security, Col Besigye's letter demands respect for human rights and freedoms, provision of civic education, free and fair elections, entrenching the rule of law and restoration of multiparty democracy. Col Besigye said he would not participate in the elections before reforms of electoral laws are carried out. "Even if I was to return to Uganda for the next elections, I would not offer myself as a candidate in the absence of necessary reforms. Similarly, I would not recommend to Reform Agenda to participate in such elections since this would have the inadvertent effect of legitimising a fraudulent regime," the letter reads. Col Besigye said that given his current freedom, he believes that he can apply himself to the struggle more effectively outside the domain of the Uganda regime. "It is therefore not my intention to return to Uganda until we achieve the essential reforms that we are struggling for or after we enter an irreversible process of negotiation for such reforms to occur," he says. The four-page letter says, "I have received several inquiries from Reform Agenda members and other leaders as to when or whether I would be coming back to Uganda to join in the political struggle building up to 2006, but having explained the situation pertaining in the country, it is my conviction that coming back under the current environment would be offering myself to the dictatorship." Former Kampala mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, who has been in the UK for further studies in order to be able to campaign for the presidency in 2006, has also promised to try to persuade Col Besigye to return to Uganda. The Reform Agenda's general secretary, Godfrey Ekanya, said that foreign envoys in the country had been involved in discussions with the government concerning the return of Col Besigye. However, he declined to name the diplomats involved, saying this would jeopardise the discussions. He claimed that the government has in the past been trying to get in touch with Col Besigye. \\\\\\\"Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else.\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Njoki Paul University of Pretoria -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
