In every situation, knowing when to leave is the smartest thing anyone can learn. Col. (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye is an example of a good player who failed to know when to quit the political dance floor, something that is about to erode his hard-earned political legacy.
Having won the hearts of the change-seeking Ugandans, the retired soldier ended up overstaying his welcome and not accepting the fact that there is a generational shift in our politics and his methods may no longer be applicable.
For the last 20 years until 2021, Besigye enjoyed the opposition driving seat, with many pro-change Ugandans having many hopes for him, though most of his political promises were just aimed at giving false hopes.
The coming of the opposition National Unity Platform party ended Besigye’s political struggles with his supporters and strongholds, shifting allegiance to Bobi and the National Unity Platform.
Besigye instead of quitting politics indefinitely, just made a tactical withdrawal to come back after, something he is desperately doing but has ended up erasing even the little hard-earned political legacy since 2001.
NUP grabbing the central region from Besigye was the biggest blow that sent the latter into political oblivion, but he took time to realize it.
Even when he has tried to play around by disguising himself to be ok with it, time has proved him wrong since he couldn’t pretend forever. He even tried to join NUP to form the united forces of change, but he couldn’t control his ego and selfishness.
His latest move of forming the new party and fighting to dissolve the FDC is nothing but the kicks of a dying horse. There is absolutely nothing he loses if he forms his new party and leaves the original FDC to die on its own since he considers the current Najjanankumbi political mediocre.
The new party he aspires to form is full of known corrupt politicians like Semujju Nganda, who is currently a corruption defender at parliament, and famous chaotic political non-performers like Erias Lukwago.
It is without doubt that the new party will not see the light of day given that the founders are selfish money-making politicians who have caused confusion and divided their former political parties.
Of course, he will get a few MPs in 2026, enough for him to receive money from the government and attract international funding, but the same party won’t be a force in giving NRM a worthy run in the 2026 elections. The puzzle remains whether Besigye has indeed been genuinely struggling to remove NRM or just for financial survival while hoodwinking his supporters.
Besigye’s desperate moves will not add anything to the opposition of Uganda but just serve the selfish interests of the founders. Dissolving the original FDC is nothing but a strategic mistake that will send Besigye to the political dustbin more and erase his hard-earned political legacy.
The unending internal strife in opposition political parties exhibits a lack of principles and shared interests by the founders of these parties, and the fights and disintegration have just started since their selfish nature is not about to stop. Museveni must have already ironed his swearing-in suit; he has never had confused and aimless opposition like what he has currently.
