Besigye ally allegedly recruiting rebels

A political ally of former presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye, has joined, and is recruiting members for, an unnamed rebel group in southwestern Uganda, the government-owned ‘New Vision’ reported on Tuesday. Besigye’s presidential campaign chief for Kasese District in March this year, Boneface Kinyambila Mumbere, had gone missing and was persuading people to join rebels fighting against the government, the newspaper reported. “Our sources say the recruiting officer is Kinyambila,” chairman of the working committee of Kasese District Council, Matayo Bwambale, was quoted as saying. Many youths from Kasese and Mbarara Districts have reportedly been joining unspecified rebel groups in the area, the ‘New Vision’ stated. “We appeal to our people to disassociate themselves from the ongoing rebel activities and warn those exaggerating the issue to stop,” it quoted Bwambale as saying. Besigye fled to the United States last month, claiming that he feared for his life after hearing that Ugandan security agents were planning to arrest him. He has previously denied any links with the rebel Allied Democratic Front (ADF), active in western Uganda, saying that attempts to link him with the rebels emanated from Ugandan security services. In an interview with IRIN on 29 August, Besigye refused to rule out the use of violence against the Ugandan government to achieve his political aims, which include reform of Uganda’s parliamentary system. [for more details, see “Besigye says he feared arrest, physical danger” at: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/archive/uganda.phtml] “I have gone through a process of violent conflict, a violent change of government before, and I am keenly aware of what it costs,” Besigye said. “If the government leaves no option open for peaceful and democratic means of changing or addressing leadership issues, then I’m afraid I will not have the option of avoiding the regrettable and disruptive means of using force,” he added.