Winnie Byanyima eyes Uganda’s presidential seat

A UK based and globally respected newspaper Daily Mail claims Oxfam International Boss and wife to FDC strongman Kiiza Besigye, Winnie Byanyima Karangwa is plotting to succeed President Museveni.

In the article, the paper claims Winnie Byanyima’s recent decision to shift headquarters of Oxfam International from UK to Kenya is part of her strategy to oust president Museveni.

The paper in a lengthy article claims, Byanyima wants to use her high position as leverage and Nairobi as a close-by base to launch a presidential bid in her home country.

Byanyima, a passionate human rights campaigner, joined Oxfam in 2013. Cynics say that president Museveni helped her get Oxfam Job, a claim she denied, while admitting she still met him in a political capacity.

‘ ‘Byanyima has the guerrilla fighter credentials of another Winnie, Mandela, though unlike chilling Winnie M, charming Winnie Byanyima gets her way by diplomacy and intelligence .’’

The paper noted that in the article entitled African £112k ‘Queen of Oxfam’ is moving charity HQ from Britain to Kenya, as scandal-hit NGO fights off claims of sexual harassment and aid workers using prostitutes,
It adds: Ms Byanyima, left her Oxford home and now lives in Nairobi, flies between OI offices in New York, Washington and Brussels, and rubs shoulders with Donald Trump and Theresa May.

In a recent BBC interview she said she would be ‘honoured’ to lead her nation. Challenged about her ‘long personal relationship’ with Museveni and whether it was ‘in conflict’ with her Oxfam duties (it has big aid projects in Kenya and Uganda), she showed a rare flash of anger – apologising for doing so.

But she could not control her ire. Museveni had no right to ‘entrench himself in power’ and it was Oxfam’s – and her – job to ‘energise citizens in defence of his assault on Uganda’s constitution’, she said.

Tory MP Nigel Evans, a member of the Commons International Development Committee said: ‘Ms Byanyima should devote all her energies to the charity, not use it as a platform for a political career in Africa.

The paper claims that since moving to Nairobi Ms Byanyima has stepped up her involvement in Ugandan politics, accusing Museveni of ‘insulting’ workers.
Recently, she posed as his friend, urging support for his bid to head a new East African leaders’ talking shop to help Uganda’s ‘transition’.

It was seen by some as a ruse to ease out Museveni.
Ms Byanyima received a university education in Britain having been given refuge there in 1970s.

Oxfam speaks out on Byanyima’s alleged plot to run for highest office in Uganda:  Oxfam said: ‘’Winnie Byanyima is an active commentator on her country’s issues, but has not lived in Uganda for 14 years and has no intention to run for elections. ’’

‘’Winnie is a Ugandan passport holder. She lives in Nairobi. She has family property in Uganda and returns there for holidays.’’ Oxfam said.
Last year, Byanyima’s contract as Executive Director was renewed for another five years.