11 May 2011
editorial
The return of FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye today presents yet another big test for the police.
His return is expected to excite his supporters who might turn out to welcome him, at a time when the police have all but cordoned off the main highway to Entebbe for delegations coming in for President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony tomorrow.
Dr Besigye has vowed not to recognise the new government on the grounds that President Museveni was not re-elected in a free and fair process. A senior official in the FDC opposition party has gone as far as to suggest that the party will have its own swearing-in ceremony.
While there is no solid proof of such plans, we strongly discourage Dr Besigye and the opposition from conducting a rival swearing-in ceremony, even a symbolic one.
We acknowledge that there are certain circumstances under which such an action would be permitted in defence of the Constitution and justice, such as happened in Ivory Coast. However, while it is clear that President Museveni enjoyed massive perks of incumbency, including unbridled access to public funds, which helped secure his re-election, the opposition cannot prove that they won the election.
A rival swearing-in ceremony would not only spark off a confrontation that could easily become violent, it would also paint the opposition as people determined the grab power at all costs.
Dr Besigye has shown himself to be bigger than that. In an interview with our sister paper, the Daily Nation on May 7, Dr Besigye, offered an olive branch to Mr Museveni, calling for a national dialogue to solve the country’s pressing problems. He said: “On the question of my role in politics, really I have never set out as a person to have a mission of being the leader. The mission is that of having qualitative changes in our country,”
In recent weeks, Dr Besigye, the opposition, and other civil society actors have proved their relevance to the country by pushing for government action to mitigate the suffering of the people in the face of an escalating cost of living, through the walk-to-work protests.
Today our leaders (both in and outside government) have another opportunity to reflect on their actions and seriously consider the need to hold a national conversation that will, hopefully, resolve the outstanding questions on democracy, respect for human rights, civil liberties, rule of law and accountable leadership.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
Let us Have Only One Swearing-in