Ugandan opposition leader warns protests against Museveni are ripe

Ugandan opposition leader warns protests against Museveni are ripe

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Kampala, Uganda - Leading Ugandan opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, has likened the political situation in the landlocked East African country to those of Tunisia and Egypt, warning that the conditions for popular protest against the presidency of Yoweri Museveni's 25-year-long rule are ripe. Citing the unwavering civil uprising in Tunisia and Egypt, Dr. Besigye, who lost two elections under controversial circumstances in 2001 and 2006, said he would rely on popular support once the 18 February elections are rigged in favour of incumbent Museveni – his former guerrilla comrade.

“A government that takes away people's freedoms invites violent protests. We have seen what is happening in Tunisia and Egypt. When governments deny people their right to choose who leads them and how they are governed, violence becomes inevitable,” Dr. Besigye warned.Read More

“In Uganda, conditions are ripe for a popular protest like we have seen in Cote d'Ivoire and Tunisia, later Egypt and Yemen. It is not really new. It happened before in eastern Europe,” Dr. Besigye told a news conference after a meeting with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State for Africa, John Carson, on Friday.

Dr, Besigye, a retired army Colonel who the supreme court twice confirmed to have been rigged out in 2001 and 2006 but could not overturn results for fresh polls, said he would only appeal to the court of public opinion.