GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. Kizza Besigye, 51, was born in 1956 in Rwakabengo, Rukungiri. He graduated from Makerere University with a degree in Human Medicine. In 1980, at 24-years of age Besigye joined the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM).

In 1981, Dr Besigye was arrested on suspicion of supporting the National Resistance Army (NRA) rebellion. He was detained and tortured for several weeks before escaping to Nairobi , Kenya , where he joined Agakhan Hospital as a medical doctor.

He was recruited into the National Resistance Army through its external wing, clandestinely re-entered Uganda and joined the guerilla fighters in Luweero. He served as a medical doctor of the NRA in charge of the health and emergency treatment of combatants. He became the army's Director of Medical Services in 1985.

When the NRA captured state power in January 1986, Kizza Besigye, was appointed Minister of State for Internal Affairs. He was also sworn in as one of the 38 historical members of the National Resistance Council (NRC), the parliament, which he served for the next ten years.

Kizza Besigye was a member of the military High Command and served as Minister of State in the Office of the President and National Political Commissar between1988 and 1991. He also served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the NRM.

Throughout his service in the legislature, executive, military High Command and the Constituent Assembly which formulated the 1995 Uganda Constitution, Besigye consistently advocated that the Movement remains a transitional arrangement that would lead to more competitive democratic governance.

In the 90's Col Besigye served as a Battalion Commander, the army's Chief of Logistics and Engineering, and as military advisor to the Minister of State for Defense.

In 1999 Besigye views on the negative trend of the Movement's governance were published and he narrowly escaped prosecution in a court-martial for voicing his views in a wrong forum. The charges were dropped and Col. Besigye eventually retired from the army in October 2000.

A few months later he declared his intention to run against Mr Museveni in the 2001 presidential elections. After he lost the election he challenged the result in Uganda 's Supreme Court on grounds of vote-rigging, use of force by the state, intimidation and electoral violence. He lost the case in a split decision and fled the country in August 2001 saying he feared for his life.

Upon returning from exile in South Africa in October 2005 Besigye was arrested on charges of rape and treason after declaring his intention to contest the 2006 presidential elections. His arrest caused spontaneous riots in Kampala city which were met with strong-arm police reactions causing violence and death on the city's streets.

Dr. Besigye was elected presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change in October 2006 shortly before his arrest. He was nominated presidential candidate while in jail awaiting trial. Upon his release on bail, Besigye conducted a complex campaign, juggling his time between campaign demands and court hearings.

He lost the election in February 2006 to Yoweri Museveni and again Kizza Besigye challenged his election defeat. Court ruled that the election was not free and fair but once again upheld the election result in a split decision reminiscent of 2001.

Dr. Kizza Besigye was acquitted of rape charges shortly after the February election but he remains on bail awaiting completion of the hearing for treason charges.

Dr Besigye is the son of a policeman and the second child in a family of six. He is married to Winnie Byanyima, and is the father of two sons.