The opposition tried in vain to coin an umbrella plot to uproot President Yoweri Museveni in 2016. An umbrella organisation TDA under the stewardship of former Prime Minister and NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi failed to bring opposition under one roof in 2016. The pre-election meetings saw Forum for Democratic Change faithful withdraw their candidate […]
The opposition tried in vain to coin an umbrella plot to uproot President Yoweri Museveni in 2016.
An umbrella organisation TDA under the stewardship of former Prime Minister and NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi failed to bring opposition under one roof in 2016.
The pre-election meetings saw Forum for Democratic Change faithful withdraw their candidate Dr Kizza Besigye after it secretly emerged the group was fronting Mbabazi for the lone role.
In the meeting were Wasswa Birigwa, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Miria Matembe, Norbert Mao and Bishop Zac Niringiye among other change voices.
Gen. Muntu has come out to break down the reason behind the failed attempt.
Appearing on NBS TV political programme ‘Frontline’, he said: “The mistake we did in 2016 was to go into TDA and mix up objectives. Our objective was to remove the regime. We focused on having a joint candidate.”
Gen Muntu argued: “If we didn’t learn from that, then we have a problem. The main objective now is to change the regime, and we all don’t have to apply the same method.”
The ANT leader explained: “Anybody who looks at this and says it is impossible and stays at home, change will not happen if you stay home. No matter the complications, there is always a solution. You only have to look at the opportunities.”
Muntu revealed: “We in ANT will always give the population hope. We know the majority want change. So many things are in favour of change, and all we have to do is look at the silver-lining. We have got to walk people out of apathy and hopelessness.”
The former army commander recollected: “It is tempting to look at the political terrain and you feel crushed even before it happens. Countries like Ghana, Malawi have had unlevelled playing fields. If they never looked at the silver-lining, they would have given up.”
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
