- Kizza Besigye, a fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has been hospitalized in Kampala after his health deteriorated due to a five-day hunger strike.
- His wife, Winnie Byanyima, has accused the Ugandan first family of orchestrating his detention, calling it “kidnapping.”
- Heavy security has been deployed around the health facility where Besigye is receiving treatment.
- Byanyima described the harsh prison conditions, stating that her husband was held in a tiny, dark cell meant for suspected terrorists.
- Public outcry has intensified, with opposition leader Bobi Wine and other activists calling for his immediate release.
- The Ugandan government is now working to transfer Besigye’s case to civilian courts, following a recent Supreme Court rulings.
Besigye, who has been detained in a maximum-security facility since November, was taken to a clinic in Bugolobi Village Mall under heavy security on Sunday evening.
Lawmaker Francis Mwijukye confirmed that Besigye was too weak to walk and had to be transported in a wheelchair.
Reports indicate that Besigye had refused food as a form of protest against his detention and mistreatment by authorities.
Winnie Byanyima’s Statement: “This is Kidnapping”
Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, took to social media to express her outrage over her husband’s condition.
She directly blamed President Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Ugandan Defence Forces, for Besigye’s suffering.
“Kizza Besigye is weak, has lost alarming weight, and is dizzy—he hasn’t eaten in 5 days. This is not just illegal detention; it is kidnapping. I demand that Kaguta Museveni and his son, the army chief, release him immediately!”
Byanyima also described her visit to Besigye’s prison cell, detailing the degrading conditions:
A tiny room with barely any space to move.
A small bed surrounded by piles of old newspapers and cardboard boxes.
A dark, narrow corridor with multiple locked doors leading to his cell.
“It was painful to find Besigye in such circumstances.”
Controversy Over Government Visit
Byanyima also refuted claims that Besigye had agreed to meet Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi in prison.
She alleged that Baryomunsi forced his way into the cell, falsely claiming to have had a conversation with Besigye.
“Besigye made it clear—he neither invited nor consented to seeing Baryomunsi. A prison officer forced him into the room. Baryomunsi lied about having a conversation.”
She further accused the government of humiliating her husband, adding:
“Besigye remained completely silent in protest. Baryomunsi ranted, heard not a single word in response, and left. The humiliation is endless.”
Public Outcry and Government Response
Besigye’s worsening condition has sparked outrage across Uganda:
Opposition leader Bobi Wine has demanded his unconditional release.
A medical doctors’ association has warned that his health is in critical danger.
Human rights activists are calling for independent medical access to evaluate his condition.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan government has announced that Besigye’s case will be transferred to civilian courts, following a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional.
The move is seen as a response to mounting pressure from both local and international observers.
Besigye’s supporters, however, remain
skeptical, insisting that he should be released immediately and given proper medical care.
