At 11:00 a.m. KB’s entourage
crossed into Adjumani District where he addressed a
gathering of about the same size at Dzaibi Sub County and received a bow
and arrow, a white cock, and a key from the people. At Pakele sub county
KB received seventy cards from NRM-O supporters who crossed to FDC after
he addressed a bigger gathering, which was chanting “New Change.” The
entourage then headed to Adjumani town to a rousing welcome of
approximately ten thousand. The party then crossed the river at Kara
where fishermen have anchored several long sticks in the river bed that
hold posters of KB under the shade of an umbrella with a full bottle of
soda by his side. In Moyo KB was given an artistic work depicting his
portrait, a spear and a squirrel. The last rally of the day was at Yumbe
Town Council.
In his message at Pabbo IDP
Camp Kizza Besigye explained his rushed visit as being a direct result of
government harassment which caused him to waste time in jail and in
court. He thanked supporters for persevering in the struggle against
dictatorship and said the government has no legitimacy at all because it
had failed in its core responsibility of providing security to the North
and Teso for 20 years. He said while the whole country was crying about
poverty the North is in a worse situation but he assured them that the war
in northern Uganda will end as soon as Museveni leaves in three weeks
time. In May FDC will begin implementing a rehabilitation, restitution,
resettlement, and development program for northern Uganda. He said
Museveni had arrested their leaders, Hon. Reagan Okumu and Hon. Michael
Ocula in order to intimidate the people of Acholi but he told them to
remain strong because the struggle was about to end.
This way! Betty Amongi with FDC supporters at a KB rally in Apac (Friday
January 27, 2006)
Throughout Adjumani District
Kizza Besigye thanked the people for their prayers and support during his
time in jail and he thanked them for persevering against dictatorship. He
received loud applause when he advised that all those who supported
Museveni’s corrupt regime must go with him. Kizza Besigye said while the
majority in Uganda are living in poverty, in Adjumani they have an
additional burden of insecurity. He pointed out that there is no single
tarmac road in all of West Nile, the roads are dusty all over, social
services have collapsed, and there is no medicine in hospitals. No one
from Adjumani will go to Makerere University on government scholarship,
teachers and other social service workers are paid very little and as a
result poverty is widespread. Kizza Besigye assured supporters that the
country is united, decided, and determined that M7 must go because of
these failures. That the time for government of a few people is over and
it is time for the majority to take over.
KB asked the people of
Adjumani and Yumbe to be vigilant and guard their votes in the forthcoming
elections. He assured Sudanese refugees that the rumors that FDC was
going to chase them away were just campaign tricks of a dying regime with
no votes in the area. He assured them that refugees shall remain in the
country in accordance with UN Conventions for protecting refugees to which
Uganda is a signatory. KB regretted that the government had divided the
country with one region remaining without electricity, tarmac roads, and
other infrastructure that is required for development, but he reminded the
people that they were Museveni’s master and now it was time to get rid of
him for his failures.
In the evening Kizza Besigye
was hosted on a talk show on Radio Pacis. He is accompanied on this leg
of the tour by Hon. Kassiano Wadri, Hon. Alex Onzima, and Hon. John
Arumadri.
Ends
FDC Reporter
FDCNEWS
‘Aloka loka’, ‘Reform Now!’:
FDC supporters at KB rally
