Dr Kizza Besigye has officially declared to the nation that he will not be contesting for president in the forthcoming 2021 presidential election. Until yesterday, most Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) members were pressurising Besigye to contest for the fifth time.

This is evidenced by Besigye’s posters that had been pinned at the party headquarters by his diehards who attempted to compel him to pick forms as a sign he would be contesting.

During an FDC National Council meeting in 2019, Dr Kizza Besigye told FDC leaders that they had forced him to contest for president in 2016 against his wish.

Dr Besigye has been in the last two years speaking strongly against participating in elections, arguing that President Yoweri Museveni cannot be removed through elections, which he organises.

The party has postponed nominations for the presidential flag-bearer, citing various reasons. Some people suspect the postponement was occasioned by the need to have more engagement with Dr Besigye to persuade him to contest again.

Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya said: “It is not yet clear who will be the FDC presidential flag-bearer. But the idea that FDC must have a presidential candidate must get out of our minds. Political dynamics keep changing. It does not always have to be FDC to give the Opposition a presidential flag-bearer.”

Makerere University political science lecturer Prof. Sabiti Makara said: “Besigye has pulled out because he does not see this as an election. He does not see any possibility of getting a good percentage in a scientific election where he will not be allowed to have rallies.”

On what Besigye’s decision means for the Opposition, Makara said: “It will weaken the Opposition. It will demoralise many opposition members who have been deriving motivation from Besigye being in the presidential race.”

Political researcher Dr Frederick Mutebi Golooba argues that Besigye’s departure is good for the Opposition.

“After contesting for president four times unsuccessfully, many people would have wondered what his motivation is if he had contested for a fifth time. It is good he has given way for others to be tested too,” Golooba argued.

Many believe that with Besigye out of the race, it will be very easy for the Opposition to agree on a joint presidential candidate.

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, who recently joined Kyagulanyi’s National Unity Platform, has been the spokesperson of Besigye’s pressure group of People’s Government. She said: “We don’t want to confuse Ugandans by having to choose between two strong candidates — Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi.”