Besigye promises to appoint ministers from rival parties

What you need to know:

  • The idea of setting up a government of national unity is popular among the different groups that are competing against President Museveni, arguing that a new consensus needs to be built if Mr Museveni’s three-decade rule comes to an end.
  • The Democratic Alliance, the Opposition coalition that collapsed after failing to choose who between Dr Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi would be the Opposition flag bearer in the presidential race, also had establishing a government of national unity as one of its key clauses. 

The Forum for Democratic Change party will set up a government of national unity that could even include members of the ruling National Resistance Movement if it wins the February 18 presidential election, Dr Kizza Besigye has said.

The idea of setting up a government of national unity is popular among the different groups that are competing against President Museveni, arguing that a new consensus needs to be built if Mr Museveni’s three-decade rule comes to an end.

OPPOSITION COALITION COLLAPSE

The Democratic Alliance, the Opposition coalition that collapsed after failing to choose who between Dr Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi would be the Opposition flag bearer in the presidential race, also had establishing a government of national unity as one of its key clauses. 

“Even if we win this election outright, we propose to have a government of national unity to include others because we believe that after the disastrous 30 years of NRM there should be a transitional process that involves the participation of all political players,” Dr Besigye said on the Lira-based Unity FM on Monday night.

The government of national unity, he said, “will inherently include NRM’’ he said.