Col (rtd) Amanya Mushega speaks at a rally on Monday
Despite having disagreements in their own opposition politics, one thing has reunited bush war comrades Amanya Mushega and Dr Kizza Besigye, both retired UPDF colonels.
The issue is none other than Dr Elioda Tumwesigye’s quest for another MP seat of Sheema Municipality, which has drawn criticism from Ugandans with some describing Tumwesigye as greedy and selfish.
Dr Tumwesigye who is a sitting MP for Sheema North County is the NRM flag bearer in the recently Sheema Municipality election and his decision to abandon his current constituency seems to be a strategy by the NRM to win the Municipality seat.
If Tumwesigye wins the forthcoming election, there will be a by election in his Sheema North County but if he loses, he will stay in Parliament under the status quo.
Tumwesigye is fiercely battling for the seat with Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Virginia Plan Mugyenyi.
Dr Besigye spoke and met Mushega at the same rally
This has now brought Mushega and Besigye together to ensure that the NRM candidate doesn’t take the newly created municipality.
The two ex bush war men have in the past clashed openly with Mushega accusing Besigye of consolidating himself as the opposition presidential candidate ;for life’ at the expense of his comrades especially Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu Oyera.
But like the old adage goes, the coming together of Besigye and Mushega confirms that politics is indeed a game with no permanent enemies or friends.
In a tweet after their rally in Sheema on Monday, Dr Besigye described Tumwesigye as Beyendeza, a Runyanore work to mean selfish.
“A very DEFIANT Sheema Municipality at today’s rally: demonstrating against NRM “Minister”/MP Erioda Tumwesigye, who is vying for a second seat in Parliament. He’s current MP for Sheema North. He’s earned himself & NRM the name of “Beyendeza” -selfish!” Dr Besigye tweeted.