Former Presidential aspirant, Dr Kizza Besigye has told the people of Rukungiri to consider the forthcoming by-election for the district Woman MP as a struggle to liberate themselves from “captivity”.
The FDC strongman was speaking in Rukungiri on Wednesday at a rally that followed the nomination of Betty Muzanira, the FDC candidate for the Rukungiri Woman MP by-election. The election is slated to take place on May 31.
Muzanira was led to the district headquarters by a large procession of cheering supporters and opposition leaders, where she was announced as the duly nominated candidate for FDC by Umar Kiyimba, the district returning officer.
Besigye told a gathering of opposition supporters in Rukungiri main stadium that the election is “very critical” in the struggle by Ugandans to take back their authority.
“This election is very critical. It is an election between the captors and the captives. It serves to show the power of the people in liberating themselves from captivity,” Dr Besigye said.
“Don’t take this election lightly,” he added.
Besigye who was in his home town cautioned the voters against underestimating the significance of the by-election in the endeavor to liberate Uganda.
“Don’t consider it as a mere voting process but taking back your power. The numbers will matter and you must come out and tell the entire world where people of Rukungiri stand,” he added.
The Rukungiri Woman Parliamentary seat fell vacant following a ruling last month by Court nullifying the election of NRM’s Winfred Matsiko in 2016.
Betty Muzanira of FDC who contested against Matsiko in 2016 had challenged the outcome citing irregularities and petitioned court.
“It is not just Matsiko who was sneaked into Parliament by the captors, there are several other MPs who joined Parliament against the will of their people,” Besigye said.
He rallied voters to mobilize themselves so as to win a landslide victory.
“I won’t be pleased to hear that we won the election with a difference of just a thousand votes. We want to win with a resounding victory like Kasese”.
Besigye was accompanied by several other top opposition leaders including FDC President, Patrick Amuriat, Leader of Opposition Winfred Kiiza, Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and Salamu Musumba among others.
In her remarks, Betty Muzanira, a seasoned educationist and former district councillor thanked the people of Rukungiri for supporting FDC.
“This court case was not for Betty but FDC. I was a mere representative. To the court witnesses who stood by the truth, thank you for championing the truth which has brought us victory,” Muzanira said.
She said she was intimidated by her political rivals, bribed and blackmailed with threats to confiscate all her property through legal action but that she stood her ground.
“I won’t be intimidated, you will see real change in Rukungiri. I have worked at Local Council and during my tenure, Rukungiri emerged best town council in Uganda. I am conversant with the law and i know how to speak. That’s what am taking to Parliament,” she said.
She encouraged the voters to receive the ‘bribes’ but vote wisely.
Other contestants that were nominated on Wednesday were Sheilla Atukunda Kirebete and former state minister for Public Service, Prisca Seezi Mbaguta both independent candidates.
Winfred Masiko of NRM will be nominated Thursday at 10am according to the Electoral Commission schedule.