Uganda opposition leader to meet Ugandans in Britain and US, urges diaspora to push for democracy

Uganda: Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye is urging the citizens of the country in diaspora to continue to push for democracy in Uganda. 

During a phone call with VOA Daybreak Africa while on a visit to Britain where he meet members of the diaspora, Besigye said;

“I think that they have two or three roles. One is to continue their engagement with the governments of the countries where they stay and indeed to solicit their support in their engagement with the regime at home, and also their engagement with those of us who are challenging the status quo.”

Besigye who was released on bail in July after he was detained for months and put under house arrest following the February presidential poll is expected to travel to the US later this month.

Besigye who came second in the election that saw long time president Yoweri Museveni win a fifth term in office claimed there were voting irregularities, and called for an independent audit of results.

Besigye later declared himself president and was charged with treason.

The government has often accused Besigye and the opposition of trying to destabilize the country, an allegation Besigye denied.

“Our struggle is in fact very, very clearly a nonviolent struggle,” Besigye said.