New pressure group People’s Front for Transition (PFT) has unveiled opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye as its head and the veteran politician has vowed to end President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s rule.
Besigye, the fiercest Museveni opponent since 2001, refused to participate in the 2021 presidential election after four unsuccessful runs.
Now, months after the election in which his FDC party lost its ‘main opposition’ label to singer Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s NUP, Besigye has launched a comeback through PFT.
As was the case with his 2016-2021 People’s Government (PG), Besigye’s PFT has Kampala city lord mayor (who FDC recently named vice president) as the first deputy of the pressure group.
The other deputy is FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
Other members of Besigye PFT are UPC represented by Peter Walubiri, Conservative Party represented by John Ken Lukyamuzi, DP Block represented by former presidential candidate Samuel Walter Mukaaku and People’s Progressive Party represented by Saddam Gayira.
Today’s PFT launch happened at Jeema offices in Mengo but party president Asuman Basalirwa was absent and reportedly out of the country.
In his remarks, Besigye said it was time for action against the Museveni regime.
“This struggle has taken a very long time. A lot of words have been spoken and this is the time to put words into action. We have come together to confront a crisis that this country is facing. We must all stand up and confront it,” noted Besigye.
“We have tested other ways and I am an expert in that. We realised election could not lead us anywhere because the whole country is captive.”
The charismatic leader rallied Ugandans to join him and draw the country out of its current crisis.
“The reason for this front [PFT] is because of the level of crisis our country faces today. The crisis we live in today has not been born in the last few days but has been mounting in the past 59 years since independence,” explained the four-time presidential candidate.
“There is a crisis in the country that we must deal with. We are here to fight for our right to vote. We first used that path of voting until we decided to choose another path.”
WALK TO WORK?
Besigye is expected to launch PFT’s first campaign in three weeks.
“We have three weeks to prepare for a grand reset of Uganda that will see president Museveni out of power. Starting today, they must know their time is up,” said the opposition strongman.
Besigye’s deputy Lukwago compared PFT pressure group to the regime-shaking 2011 walk-to-work protests.
“This is not an electoral alliance but it is well thought out that this platform is for a purpose. This is akin to walk to work. It is about Uganda and people coming together for a common cause,” explained Lukwago.
“We are not focusing on any election cycle but liberating our country. Let us focus on the journey we want to walk.”
