Summary:

• Opposition figure Kizza Besigye plans to challenge President Museveni before the 2026 elections, rallying support for regime change in Uganda. Besigye’s faction within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), known as the Katonga Faction, seeks to form a new political party. Despite internal rifts, Besigye emphasizes unity in opposing the ruling government, advocating for non-violent resistance. His confrontational approach has polarized opinions within the FDC, raising questions about its efficacy. Besigye’s consultations across Uganda aim to mobilize support for his cause.

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However we do not believe in real coup or threat to regime stability by Besigye political actions.

Opposition stalwart Kizza Besigye has told about his plans not to wait for 2026 elections to remove President Museveni and the NRM government from power.

“I will not wait for 2026, let us begin now, our plan is not to look for a leader, our plan is to look for what to lead and that is our country Uganda that is in captivity by Mr Museveni and his family,” Besigye said.

The retired colonel and former bush war personal doctor of President Museveni has been on a nationwide consultation tour as his
Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction seek opinions of voters on whether they should form a new political party. The entire Besigye group, including national chairman Wasswa Birigwa, left and nestled under Besigye’s wings at Katonga, leading to the creation of the so-called ‘Katonga Faction’.

Forum for Democratic Party Leaders from Kigezi Sub region on April 4th 2024 endorsed Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye as their candidate for the 2026 general elections and demanded the formation of a new party. That has been called for since the fallout with Najjanakumbi. That is needed and there are several of MPs who will follow him. The FDC Katonga fraction will be strong and be relevant. On March 14th Besigye, has asked the leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party to sell the party to him or reconcile with Mathias Mpuuga, as it will not end well with NUP if Mpuuga is not called back. NUP is at a disadvantage due to the conflicts they are having with Mpuuga, so the only option they have right now is selling the party to us at Katonga or reconciling with Mpuuga, who will finish them off if they don’t,” thinks Besigye.

. In the 2021 General Elections he was in the shadow, but there was others within FDC who became the Presidential Candidate and Besigye was a part of the United Forces for Change (UFC) with the National Unity Platform (NUP). That he was participating in stark contrast to the leadership of Najjanakumbi. Therefore, it is only healthy to see the campaigning now.

FDC Katonga is not in a better political position because they are searching for followers to either form a new party or buy one.

Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye challenged the Public to form groups and rally fellows about the captivity they are in so that they can come up with one stand against the current government.

Kizza Besigye seems to have lost hope of regaining control of the party he formed after a bitter split last year, following accusations that the party leaders had received money from President Yoweri Museveni.

Besigye challenged all party members to initiate the conversations of strengthening unity among Ugandans to believe in the ideology of removing the NRM government through concerted efforts without using guns. Some say he is only playing diversionary politics, others think he is trying to create a vehicle for his loyalists to bounce back to parliament.

Besigye’s leadership of the FDC since 2017 has been characterized by a renewed emphasis on confrontational politics, mass mobilization, and resistance against the Museveni regime. His confrontational stance towards the ruling establishment, including calls for civil disobedience and defiance campaigns, has polarized opinion within the FDC and raised questions about the efficacy of his strategy in effecting meaningful change.

The regime has subjected you to beggars and only waits for the little support with handouts on top of intimidations with the famous ‘drones’ to those that try to speak out, We then cannot wait for 2026.”, he said.

Besigye is the retired colonel and former personal doctor of President Museveni during the bush war, who is now a prominent figure within the FDC Katonga faction, has embarked on a nationwide consultation tour.

The four-time presidential candidate cautioned the Katonga faction of what he termed as “masqueraders at Najjanankumbi” (the faction headed by Patrick Amuriat) whose interests and goal is different from the Katonga faction.

“The Najja group has a totally different aim that is driven by selfish interests and how they will survive the tough times created by this government,” Besigye said.

Dr Besigye quietly decamped to his private office at Katonga Road in Nakasero years before a bitter fallout between his loyalists and FDC president Patrick Amuriat and General Secretary Nandala Mafabi causes a charade at their Najjanakumbi headquarters.

The entire Besigye group, including national chairman Wasswa Birigwa, left and nestled under Besigye’s wings at Katonga, leading to the creation of the so-called ‘Katonga Faction’. Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye said the Nandala group at Najjanankumbi made it clear on who they are and work. According to the Secretary General FDC Katonga, Harold Kaija, despite the damage the Najjanankumbi has caused on the FDC party, “we still have our party structures and the people still believe in Dr Besigye”. Besigye’s decision to challenge Museveni in the 2001 presidential elections served as a catalyst for the opposition’s consolidation, rallying disparate factions under a unified banner of democratic change.

Kaija added that much as some of the party leaders and members demand for a new political party, they will announce the next move after the ongoing consultative meeting with the party members across the country.

Dr Besigye and the FDC Katonga leaders are in western Uganda tour where they started with Mbarara and the next destination is Kabale then Rukungiri and Bushenyi respectively.

The Reform Agenda (RA) which was birthed from the Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) led to the formation of the Forum for Democratic Change Party which later chose Retired DR. Col. Kizza Besigye as its leader and Presidential candidate during the 2006 elections.