Tensions are rising among opposition politicians in Uganda following a controversial plan by Kizza Besigye to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni. Many leaders from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and other opposition groups failed to support Besigye during his appearance at a military court in Makindye on December 2, 2024.
This withdrawal of support comes after leaked audio recordings revealed Besigye criticizing fellow opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi. In those recordings, Besigye called Kyagulanyi a “mediocre” and doubted his ability to remove Museveni from power. More disturbingly, Besigye was heard discussing plans to acquire weapons and drones to destabilize the Ugandan government and assassinate the president.
While Besigye’s supporters from his Katonga group attended the court, many prominent opposition figures chose to stay away. They made it clear that they do not support his extreme actions and wanted to distance themselves from him because of the assassination plot.
Some politicians believe that his wife, Winnie Byanyima, may have influenced Besigye’s decisions. Sources claim that she pressured him to leave the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party after it refused to support his presidency.
It is reported she even raised $20 million for the FDC on the condition that Besigye would be the presidential candidate. When FDC declined, she allegedly pushed him to form the new party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The plan for violence reportedly emerged after Besigye and Byanyima realized that the PFF was not gaining traction. They hoped that causing chaos might persuade the United States and the United Kingdom to back Besigye as a potential leader after Museveni’s removal.
However, their plan was thwarted when Ugandan and Kenyan security forces apprehended Besigye at a meeting in Kenya linked to the arms deal. Following this, many opposition leaders chose to separate themselves from Besigye and his wife, viewing their actions as harmful to the broader opposition movement.
Opposition politician Denis Adim Enap stated on NBS television that the current state of opposition in Uganda is fragmented and ineffective. “Museveni is now relaxed, he even has time to go cut bananas. We don’t have opposition in this country; they’ve relaxed,” Enap said.
The allegations against Besigye highlight serious concerns, not only for his political future but also for his wife, Winnie. Their involvement in plans perceived as terrorism may jeopardize her job and reputation.
Overall, Besigye’s failed attempt to destabilize the Ugandan government reflects a growing rift within the opposition. With many leaders now distancing themselves from him, he remains isolated and questions about the unity and effectiveness of Uganda’s opposition loom large.
