How Museveni’s Minister Cried Like A Baby When Besigye Refused To Stand For Presidency

During the Thursday NBS Frontline, where the topic was Dr. Kizza Besigye’s ongoing consultation tours, his defacto spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda revealed an incident of more than seven years ago whereby Joyce Sebugwawo, currently a Minister in President Museveni’s government, broke down and shed tears during a meeting after the thick-skinned politician from Rwakabengo declined to stand for President for 2016.

Nganda said many were concerned about FDC’s 2016 candidacy and JPAM’s emergence as the new doyen of the opposition. KB was not the flag bearer, his popularity among the people would diminish and they wanted to see KB challenge Gen Museveni for the 4th time, Besigye was not interested and had since been convinced that he cannot handle voting Gen Museveni alone. He decided to work hard instead of challenging Museveni at the ballot box.

“We were there in a meeting where all of us were pleading with Col Kizza Besigye to offer himself again. I can tell you it wasn’t an easy meeting. He was clear he didn’t want to stand for President again. In fact Oweek Joyce Sebugwawo cried pleading with Besigye to stand for Presidency,” Nganda said.

He said all this to correct the false impression which had been created by the moderator Charles Mpagi that Dr. Besigye’s ongoing tours were meant to curtain-raise for his impending return to the ballot paper. Nganda made it clear, as Besigye himself has consistently been saying, that the politician from Rwakabengo isn’t interested in being a Presidential Candidate anymore.

Nganda also explained that he doesn’t expect Dr. KB’s ongoing tours to create or ignite social media conflict between Dr. Besigye’s and Bobi Wine’s supporters. He also explained that he thinks many opposition leaders are now more likely to come together than before, as there are signs that they each feel politically vulnerable due to Museveni’s tactics; This means there is increasing recognition that no political group or leader can go there alone and defeat the evil old general in Rwakitura.

He noted that many negotiations are ongoing not on how to deal with common candidates in 2026 but on how to develop cooperation to bring General Museveni to power through mass protests and other elections planned by many who already believe in this. There is no way this country can defeat Rwakitura’s experienced leader.

The government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo warned against complacency making it clear the mistakes of some NRM leaders, such as the President refusing to crack the whip on those who proudly engage in corruption practices, could propel the Besigye-Kyagulanyi coalition into victory should the ruling establishment continue being indifferent and insensitive to public opinion. Reflecting on what recently happened in Senegal, where a hitherto despised opposition leader swept to victory, Opondo said no one should write off Dr. Kizza Besigye or even Bobi Wine as yet.

He said the insensitivity, corruption, pride and arrogance of cadres who Gen Museveni has propelled to high positions could turn out to be the Archilles Heels accelerating the dismantling and eventual end of the NRM if the top party leadership doesn’t pause, reflect and begin to govern in a way that portrays them as sensitive and responsive to public sentiments.

Opondo said he remains committed to campaigning for Gen Museveni but agrees there is wide spread public anger and resentment over the pride and corruption in which young NRM cadres, holding high positions, have decided to indulge themselves in.

He predicted that this, more than anything else, could alienate Gen Museveni and his NRM cadres from a large fraction of the population, going into 2026