Fr Batanyenda blesses Besigye’s presidential bid

Dr Kizza Besigye addresses a rally at Kabale Municipal Stadium last Saturday. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA 

The Parish Priest for Kitanga Catholic Church, Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, has asked Dr Kizza Besigye never to forget God’s love should he become President of Uganda after the February 18 election.

Fr Batanyenda said it is God’s love that made Dr Besigye victorious during the bush war (1981-1986) and still protects him during his numerous arrests and battles with police, who often fire tear gas at him to disperse his ‘disallowed’ rallies.

Quoting Deuteronomy Chapter 8 verses 11 to 20 that talks about being careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, Fr Batanyenda asked Dr Besigye never to be proud but serve the people of God equally.

Fr Batanyenda uttered the words as he offered blessings to Dr Kizza Besigye at Kitanga playground last Saturday. The priest said he would offer similar blessings to all presidential candidates “because all of them are children of God.”

“I must deliver God’s blessings to the sinners and the holy ones because all of them are children of God. Last year, I blessed (presidential candidate) Mr Amama Mbabazi of Go Foward and President Museveni of the NRM. Today, I am offering blessings to Dr Kizza Besigye of the FDC party,” he said.

“The secret in God’s blessings is that they help the sinners to repent and the holy ones to remain holy,” Fr Batanyenda said.
Dr Besigye said it was the mercy of the God that he and fellow combatants in the then National Resistance Army survived during the bush war “and not even the strength of those calling themselves Ssabalwanyi (indomitable fighter).”
President Museveni, who led the guerilla war described himself as Ssabalwanyi.

“I was arrested by the then government (of Dr Milton Obote) because I campaigned for Mr Museveni in the 1980 elections after which he protested the results and went to the bush where he launched an armed struggle. I am lucky to have left the prison alive because all the people I was arrested with have never been seen,” Dr Besigye said.

Warning
Dr Besigye warned that anybody planning to rig the February 18 elections shall face a similar fate that one gets after touching a lit charcoal stove.
“This is a new year; let us have a new president,” Dr Besigye added to applause.
The presidential candidate appealed to Ugandans to overcome fear and guard their vote jealously on voting day as victory is at hand.
“(Uganda Patriotic Movement) UPM members were the most intimidated, harassed and arrested during the early 1980s but they became victorious because they stood firm and lived beyond intimidation. Those intimidating you are just scare crows, be firm,” Dr Besigye said.