Byanyima Throws Weight Behind Democratic Alliance’s Transition Proposal

Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and wife of incarcerated opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has endorsed the Democratic Alliance’s proposal to hold a national conversation on the contentious transition from the Museveni regime.

Speaking from her Kasangati home on February 22, 2025, Byanyima who was asked what she would say to Museveni if she met him today, emphasized the need for a peaceful and inclusive transition, urging President Museveni to address the transition question.

“To take a few steps back and address the transition,” Byanyima said, “we need a peaceful and inclusive transition from you, (Museveni). Set up a national dialogue, let it be facilitated neutrally. Bring your friends like the Nyerere foundation to come and moderate through which all political forces will talk about the transition from you.”

The Democratic Alliance’s proposal has gained momentum, with many Ugandans calling for a peaceful and inclusive transition. Byanyima’s endorsement is a significant boost to this effort, and her influential voice is likely to inspire more Ugandans to join the conversation.

Coordinated by Nyendo-Mukungwe MP, former Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), and Parliamentary Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga, the DA aims to unite all political change-seeking forces to challenge President Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule in a renewed way backed by the needed reforms in the related legal regime.

However, Byanyima’s passionate views may injure her newfound love with the leaders of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), who have been aimlessly critical of the DA’s proposals without offering any alternative to them.

The NUP leaders had angrily attacked Mpuuga, when he proposed constitutional, electoral reforms, and national transition, accusing him of working for Museveni’s interests.

Mathias has been pushing for national transition, emphasizing the need for key constitutional, electoral, and administrative reforms.

“Our proposal at the DA is aimed at forming a basis for a national conversation/discussion and debate/dialogue on the future of Uganda,” Mathias explained.

He outlined six principal objectives, including ensuring non-violent, free, fair, credible, verifiable, and consequential elections, buttressing mechanisms that guarantee peaceful and smooth transfer of power from one leader to another.

“Currently, there is no such mechanism because we do not have a presidential transition act. We do not have a mechanism that guarantees what happens to someone losing power,” Mpuuga said, “We know that those in power have acted with bad will against the country.”

He added, “If they are to be forgiven for certain crimes, there must be a framework of understanding the nature of crimes. Are they crimes in persona, or are they state crimes?

Another DA’s principal objective, according to Mpuuga is to buttress mechanisms that guarantee continuity of peace, stability, progress, and prosperity for all Ugandans.

“At this stage in our country, who is the guarantor of our national security? An individual has abused the national security system (General Museveni). Who is the guarantor of our elections because all our elections have been tinkered with?” Mpuuga said.

He asked, “Who is the guarantor of a free and fair electoral process without turning elections into a ritual of sorts? We hesitate as DA to encourage citizens to go into a simple ritual, and simply look on as they are teargassed away and then wait for a declaration.”

He explained that all stakeholders in Uganda need to be part of “this conversation.”

“I have heard people say that you are talking about so many things but General Museveni will not accept. Who tells you that we are here to massage General Museveni?,” Mathias asked.

Byanyima’s endorsement of the Democratic Alliance’s proposal is significant, and her views on national transition are equivocally clear.

“Like in Ghana, the incumbent lost, the opposition candidate won, and the transition happened properly, according to the law. Here, this refusal to respect institutions, the constitution, this business of ‘I am going to war because I have the army, or because I am strong,’ is costing us so much,” Byanyima said.

Byanyima’s comments come at a time when Uganda is facing significant challenges, including economic instability, and gross human rights abuses at the hands of the security agencies, and her call for national transition and inclusive dialogue is a powerful reminder of the need for urgent reform.

Byanyima noted, “All these youths have no jobs, but where would they get them if Uganda is not stable… where there is [no] predictability in transition?” Her question echoes the concerns of many Ugandans, who are “desperate for change.”

Mpuuga on the other hand, emphasized the need for all stakeholders to be part of the conversation on national transition.

“We must com

pel General Museveni and his people to listen to the people,” he said, “This is not his father’s estate, it is a bequest to all of us, and therefore, we must all as stakeholders make voices on how our bequest is being managed.”