Statement to Ugandans from Col. Dr.

Kizza Besigye
upon his return home from Nairobi, Kenya
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for
the very warm welcome that you accorded me yesterday
when I arrived. I was truly humbled by the thousands of
Ugandans that came out from the moment I touched down
in Entebbe and all the way to my home to Kasangati.
Thanks to the first aid I received immediately after the
vicious attack from friends and family and from
professional and dedicated doctors in both Uganda and
Kenya; I have recovered from most of my injuries and I
am back and ready to work. Thank you all for your
prayers, God heard you and saved my life.
Your warm welcome was met with the same brutality,
meted out by the same security operatives who have
continuously assaulted and killed us since the Walk to
Work campaign began. The Presidential Guard, military
police, regular police and militia dressed in black and in
civilian clothes descended on a happy and peaceful
procession to indiscriminately kill and injure innocent
Ugandans.
This time even the media was not spared. They were
injured and their cameras and equipment broken, to
destroy evidence of state brutality against unarmed
civilians. They used live ammunition, tear gas, water
cannons, hit people with sticks and batons not to mention
the heavy presence of mambas and huge artillery weapons
that accompanied the procession to create an atmosphere
fear and tension.
I mourn those who have been killed while welcoming me
and my heart is with the families of the deceased. There
seems to be an attempt to hide the identities of those who
were killed and injured yesterday. If you were hurt or
know somebody who was killed or hurt and needs
support, please inform us. We will do whatever we can to
support you, we are in this together.
Activists for Change is opening two help lines
0705204772 and 0759367165 tomorrow; and we invite all
peace loving Ugandans who want a better country to
participate by reaching out and supporting victims of state
violence. You can call this number, and participate by
visiting victims and contributing to victims medical costs
and their family needs.
We will not stand by and watch our country slide back to
those dark days when Ugandans were at the mercy of
dictators and their armies. Let the tear gas, the beatings,
the torture and killings increase our resolve to end this
humiliation and denial of our God given rights. The
NRM government stands warned to stop their vicious
unprovoked attacks on unarmed Ugandans.
I was also very pleased to note that our procession was
largely peaceful in spite of the unprovoked and vicious
attacks from the state. Let me stress to you again, that as
we continue to assert ourselves before a tired, illegitimate
and frightened NRM regime our actions must remain
peaceful. We must not respond to the NRM’s violence
with other acts of violence.
Let me express my deep appreciation to the Activists for
Change led by Mathias Mpuuga for bravely leading this
campaign which has in a short time grown to embrace
civil society including opposition parties. We must
remain united and resolved to bring about positive
change. Last but not least I would like to acknowledge my
colleagues, leaders of the opposition DP, Suubi, JEEMA,
CP, UPC and FDC for their visionary leadership, together
we can make a difference for our people.