"Why can't Dr Besigye retire to Rukungiri and leave us alone?"

For the 20 years Dr Kizza Besigye has been steadfast in his opposition to President Museveni. Along the way, he has endured all manner of abuse and torture. He even fled to exile after 2001 elections fearing for his life.

He came back at the tail end of 2005 and continued from where he left.

Yesterday after the former FDC leader was almost "killed" by teargas at Banda, one of his strong supporters, a one Muzafaru asked The Rogue: "Why can't besigye retire to Rukungiri and leave us alone?"

I found the question very intriguing and for a moment I thought that Muzafaru had lost his mind.

So I asked him: "How can Besigye retire from a struggle whose ultimate goal is yet to be achieved?"

He looked lost for words.

Muzafaru later answered that as a supporter of Besigye, he was increasingly getting worried that something bad could happen to him.

"I don't want to imagine what would happen if anything bad happened to him at the hands of the security officers," he said.

So in his view, Besigye should do them a favour and retire before anything happens.

I asked again: "Retire from what?"

Before he could respond, I told him that the political struggle in Uganda is not structured like a normal organisation where there is a clear hierarchy.

"It is not like a political party. It is ambiguous and activists slide in and out," I said.

I told him that unlike some of his colleagues who fell by the wayside, Besigye has managed to stay the course of the struggle because of his consistency.

"Consistency?" he interjected. "Consistency in losing elections?"

Nope, I told him that that was a dangerous line to take.

I told him that he  has been more consistent at opposing Museveni and his government than any other opposition figure I know.

I asked Muzafaru: "Who, in your view, would take over the struggle if Besigye retired?"

Muzafaru said: "I don't know but Besigye should still retire."

 

 

The Rogue is a satirical column that runs every TUESDAY on The Nile Post.

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