Emmy Allio
21 August 2002
FORMER presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye on Monday clashed with the chief of Military Intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, and the Director General of External Security Organisation, David Pulkol, during a radio talk show over allegations that Besigye was engaged in subversive activities.
Mayombo, who was a guest speaker on the Monitor FM, accused Besigye of being the commander-in-chief of the People's Redemption Army (PRA) being led by renegade UPDF officers Col. Samson Mande and Col. Anthony Kyakabale.
Mayombo said he had evidence that Besigye had links with Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and blamed Besigye for Kony's atrocities.
Besigye said, "All Ugandans, in principle, have a legitimate right to fight for their freedom and that of others if they feel they are being oppressed."
He said the question is whether President Yoweri Museveni's government is legitimate, constitutional or "acting unconstitutionally to the extent of violating people's rights and it must lose its legitimacy."
Besigye wondered whether Museveni's regime was open to every person who is intending to fight for his freedom or for the rights of others.
"Therefore anybody fighting Government of Uganda today has a legitimate right to do so," he added.
The hot exchange was on the 'Andrew Mwenda Live' programme. Pulkol later joined Mayombo in the war of words.
Besigye was on phone from South Africa. Tempers rose on several occasions during the discussion as the moderator appealed to them to 'remain civilised'.
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