President Museveni has paid tribute to Mzee Boniface Byanyima as a “principled” politician who resisted temptation to join other political establishments despite various people attempting to lure him into joining the Uganda People’s Congress in 1962.
Mr Museveni who spent part of his childhood days at Mzee Byanyima’s home in western Uganda was speaking to mourners at a vigil of the fallen DP stalwart.
Mr Museveni said he was personally inspired by Mzee Byanyima to support support the Democratic Party as a young man.
Mzee Byanyima
Mr Museveni however took a veiled attack at the members of the Democratic Party some of whom have joined the NRM, pointing to the fact that the current DP members do not believe in the ideals of the party.
“Mzee Byanyima was a principled DP members and not like the others. He would stick to what he believed in (but) when I see these DP of today, I just keep quiet,” Mr Museveni said with a smile on his face.
Mr Museveni also hailed Mzee Byanyima as a strong pillar that helped Ankole people to progress in various fields including agriculture, education and general economic progress.
Struggles in DP
Currently under the leadership of Mr Norbert Mao, the DP has been involved in internal power struggles which have threatened to wipe the oldest political party off national stage. In fact, the factionalism were evident during the 2016 presidential elections with two factions; one led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and that of Mr Mao failing to front presidential candidate but rather supporting different camps.
The two leaders don’t see eye to eye
Mr Mao supported Go Forward candidate Amama Mbabazi while that of Lukwago rallied behind Dr Kizza Besigye.
So far prominent DP leaders have joined Mr Museveni’s NRM party. They include Mr Muhammed Kezaala who resigned his position in DP as national chairman and Ms Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the minister of children and youth affairs.
Mzee Byanyima’s last journey
Mzee Byanyima’s body is currently lying in state at Parliament with a special sitting expected to pay tribute to the late politician who died at the age of 96.
There will be a funeral service on Saturday at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe and an ecumenical service at his home in Ruti, Mbarara district on Sunday morning before he is laid to rest later in the afternoon.
