By Spy Uganda
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Monday met Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye and discussed ‘the liberation dream that is still being pursued in many of our nations’-TheSpy Uganda reports.
“It was great catching up with my long-time friend Kizza! I commend him for staying focused on the well-being of our people,” Raila announced on his social media on Monday as he posted pictures of him and Besigye.
Raila, like Besigye, has been in the opposition as they seek to realise their dreams of becoming presidents in Kenya and Uganda respectively. Although Besigye withdrew from this year’s election.
The ODM party leader has made four attempts at the presidency without success. He stayed out of the presidential race in 2002, backing Mwai Kibaki who defeated Uhuru Kenyatta.
It was great catching up with my long-time friend Kizza!
Dr. @kizzabesigye1 and I discussed the liberation dream that is still being pursued in many of our nations.
I commend him for staying focused on the well-being of our people. pic.twitter.com/yv3aXvdpsU
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) September 6, 2021
Raila’s supporters believed that he was robbed of victory in 2007 when he ran against Kibaki. The disagreements led to the ethnic violence that left 1,300 dead and over 600,000 displaced.
In 2013 and 2017, Raila lost elections to Uhuru Kenyatta who ran on the Jubilee ticket.
On the other hand, Besigye, who is from the Forum for Democratic Change party has been arrested 43 times since 2000 trying to oppose the government.
During the 2006 election, Besigye who was President Yoweri Museveni’s political rival until this year’s election was arrested on claims of treason and rape.
His supporters said they were fabricated charges to stop him from challenging Museveni.
Despite many attempts to the presidency, Besigye has never won due to what he alleges is rigging. His rival Museveni is one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa.
He and his National Resistance Movement came to power in 1986 at the end of a five-year war, and have led Uganda ever since.
