By Nkoola Mike
The political landscape in Uganda has long been shaped by figures who seem more interested in preserving their power than in genuinely serving the people.
Dr. Kizza Besigye, once seen as a beacon of hope for change, now appears to be following in the footsteps of President Museveni, sacrificing the very ideals he once championed for personal survival.
Besigye’s recent moves to undermine and ultimately dissolve the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) reveal a troubling reality: his inability to remain the uncontested “king” within the party has driven him to destroy what countless Ugandans have worked so hard to build.
Like Museveni, who sold off Uganda’s state-owned companies in a bid to secure his regime’s immediate survival, Besigye’s actions are a testament to a self-serving mindset The focus is no longer on “One Uganda, One People,” but on the desperate preservation of his influence, even if it means tearing down the very structures meant to bring about lasting change.
This pattern is not new. It echoes Museveni’s sell-off of national assets, a short-sighted strategy that prioritized immediate gain over the country’s future well-being. Similarly, Besigye’s dismantling of FDC—arguably the strongest opposition force in Uganda—shows a willingness to jeopardize the nation’s democratic prospects for personal ambition It’s a betrayal of the trust and hopes of millions who believed in the vision of a better Uganda, free from the grips of a power-hungry elite.
The sad truth is that both Besigye and Museveni, like many from the NRA-NRM bush war era, seem to share a dangerous sense of entitlement. They view Uganda as theirs alone, a playground for their political games and personal interests. The idea of a “people’s struggle” has been twisted into a tool for self-preservation, leaving the ordinary Ugandans to fend for themselves in a system that increasingly serves only a select few.
It is perhaps divine intervention that Ugandans have been spared from having Besigye as a leader at the national level. His recent actions serve as a stark warning: trusting these old guards of the NRA-NRM era comes at great risk. Their legacy is one of self-interest and survival at the expense of Uganda’s future. The destruction of FDC is just the latest chapter in this long and painful story, reminding us that the fight for true democracy in Uganda is far from over.
Nkoola Mike is a guest writer
