Uganda’s opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye is extending his diplomatic onslaught against President Museveni by explaining his quest for regime change to powerful lobby groups in the international community.
After addressing New York lawyers and Ugandans in the Diaspora, Besigye will this Friday speak at the hugely influential Royal Institute of International Affairs, generally known as Chatham House.
Chatham House conducts research projects which, over many years, have influenced British government policy-making.
Researchers say it has been a think-tank where the “great and the good” of British capitalism have briefed academics, politicians, civil servants and selected journalists; where they considered, under “Chatham House rules”, that their remarks and statements would not be identified.
From 1945 to around 1975 particularly, Chatham House became “almost the club of the foreign policy establishment”, where ambassadors and diplomats “could get prior intelligence of what advice government ministers were being given”.
It also set up an American link through the Chatham House Foundation.
Besigye has previously called for defiant activities to remove president Museveni’s government from power.
He was arrested and jailed after declaring himself president in a video shared on YouTube.
Upon being released from Luzira Prison, Besigye decided to take his campaign to the western community.
Besigye told lawyers in New York that Museveni’s hold onto power is facilitated by corruption and suppression of dissent, a charge government denies.
Information and ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze recently said Besigye “is now more worried and vulnerable politically than before because of seeing and hearing government’s tough stance on issues of service delivery.”
Tumwebaze further said the FDC strongman “is becoming a boring subject and so has to desperately fight for space in the media.”
In an introductory note seen by ChimpReports on Thursday, Chatham House said, “At this event, Dr Kizza Besigye will discuss his perspectives on Uganda’s policy challenges, and will outline his party’s strategies for improving prospects for Uganda’s youth.”
Besigye disputed the results of the country’s elections in February 2016, which saw the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) retain power and President Yoweri Museveni extend his 30-year rule in Uganda.
Chatham House said Uganda plays a prominent role in East Africa’s regional politics, and if well-harnessed future oils production and its young population, with 53 percent of the population currently under the age of 15, could translate into positive change for Uganda.
“But bright prospects rely on a governance context that accommodates and responds to diversity and grievance and manages the economy towards greater opportunity for young people entering the job market,” said the UK-based institute.
Having lost the elections and his defiance campaign crushed by security forces, Besigye appears to be marshalling support from the international community ahead of the 2021 elections.
Tumwebaze criticized Besigye for falling short of providing alternative ideas to develop the country.
“The more we purge and fight the weaknesses in the service delivery framework, the more the likes of Besigye get absolutely lost since they have no superior alternatives to sell, apart from peddling deceptive talk of inciting people on the weakness of government,” said Tumwebaze.
President Museveni cannot seek re-election under the current Constitution which maintains a 75-year-age limit provision for presidential candidates.