Kizza Besigye: The People's President

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• published: 10 May 2016
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We interviewed Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye a few years back when we were in Uganda doing research for our film, 'A Brilliant Genocide'. Here's what Kizza Besigye had to say back then about the state of democracy in Uganda and the electoral process (well before the last disputed elections this February 2016... ) Photo Credit: Echwalu Photography Video by Atlantic Star Productions Documentary: www.abrilliantgenocide.com More videos and outtakes from our research at www.vimeo.com/channels/ABGmedia CURRENT NEWS: [May 2016] Ugandan opposition leader under house arrest to stop him holding rallies: Kizza Besigye, who has ran for president four times and many claim was the rightful winner of this years elections, is being detained at home as police break up public rallies. There is also a current media ban for an media outlet covering Besigye's Defiance Campaign. From Reporters Without Borders: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is very preoccupied by the gag order imposed on Ugandan media, forbidding them to report on the "defiance" campaign put in place by the opposition. It asks the authorities to immediately lift this ban, which reflects poorly on the current regime. On 5 May 2016, Jim Muhwezi, former Major general of the Army and current Information minister issued a gag order preventing live coverage of the opposition's "defiance" campaign spearheaded by the party of Kizza Besigye. This order follows a ruling of the deputy chief Justice from April, 29 declaring all opposition protests illegal. In its release, the Information Minister said "Any media house that continues offering live coverage of the so-called defiance campaign risk having its broadcasting licence revoked". He added " The ban may extend to social media if it is used as an alternative tool for propagating defiance campaign". "This is a scandalous clamp down on information freedom that only adds to the difficulties journalists have been facing since before the presidential elections, says Reporters Without Borders. We urge the authorities to lift this illegal gag order immediately". The gag order has been issued a few days before the planned swearing in ceremony of President Yoweri Museweni, who will start his 30th year in the presidential seat, after being elected in February following an election the European Union said lacked transparency. The opponent Kizza Besygie had rejected the result of the February elections and had since then been placed under house arrest. Reporters trying to cover the conditions of his incarceration have been systematically harassed by the Ugandan police guarding Besigye's residence. Uganda is ranked 102nd out of 180 countries in the 2016 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.