Besigye threatens to organise LC elections

Opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye yesterday launched a campaign dubbed ‘LC Elections Now’ to hold local council elections, should the NRM party government fail to conduct one soon.

The retired army Colonel accused government of finding every excuse not to hold the grassroots elections, including “amending the law to create intimidation so that people can be manipulated.”

“We are going to focus on organising an LC1 election in this country whether the regime … is supportive of it or not. We are going to be working towards our people establishing legitimate leadership in the villages and it is achievable,” Dr Besigye said during a media briefing he called at his Katonga Road offices in Kampala.

When pressed to explain how they would go about holding elections for local leaders, the four-time presidential candidate, promised to provide details in the near future.

After being declared loser in last year’s presidential elections, which he claimed to have won by 52 per cent, Dr Besigye continued with his “defiance campaign”, leading to repeated confrontations. He was placed him under virtual house arrest from voting day, February 18, 2016, until recently when the police withdrew its forces camped just outside his premises.

Dr Besigye said LC1 elections are extremely important and critical in advancing the influence of the people.
“We have never had village elections, now for 20 years. No village elections; people to choose their voices, to get through whom their voices will pass at the most local level where they live,” he added.

“Can you imagine that in 2016 you are talking about elections through lining up behind candidates? Such a primitive and dangerous method! If I am a candidate and my wife doesn’t want to vote for me, what will she do? Will she stand behind another candidate and come back home with me or vice versa. This is causing chaos and insecurity in the community. How will people freely express themselves?”

The government has repeatedly announced, then postponed when it will be holding local council elections.