Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Kiiza Besigye has said his Saturday with Museveni was a symbolic handover of power by the president to him.
Besigye and Museveni shook hands at Namugongo shrine during a mass celebrated by the Pope who concluded his three- day visit to Uganda on Sunday.
The two had not shaken hands in the last 15 years since Besigye broke ranks with Museveni and challenged his leadership.
Besigye was Museveni’s personal doctor during the guerilla war that brought the latter to power. But since Besigye challenged Museveni’s leadership, the two have had an acrimonious relationship.
Addressing a rally on Sunday at Lagile Primary school in Awere Sub County in Pader district, where he had made a stopover en route to Pader town council, Besigye said the handshake with Museveni was a symbolic handover of power to him.
“President Museveni is very aware of change that is coming which is why he decided to greet the next president because he knows I am the next president and it symbolizes peaceful transfer of power, “Besigye told the excited crowd.
The FDC candidate told the crowd that former Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi opted to get out of the bus [symbol of the NRM] because he saw change coming.
Besigye who is having a fourth shot at the presidency also responded to concerns as to whether he can defeat Museveni having failed thrice in the past.
‘‘Fighting a dictatorship is not a one day job. We shall remove the dictator from power with votes and not guns,’’ he said.
Aswa County MP, Reagan Okumu who accompanied Besigye urged FDC supporters not to clash with their NRM counterparts saying most people in the NRM are FDC supporters who are only ‘‘eating’’ NRM money.
Okumu asked FDC supporters not to fear intimidation and not to allow to be bribed by the NRM.
“Do not fear intimidation and do not accept to be bribed,’’ said Okumu adding that the bribes from the NRM that has led to a rise in the price of consumer goods.
