KAMPALA, UGANDA — Former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye exhibited signs of significant weakness during his court appearance at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. This observation comes a week after Besigye initiated a hunger strike, a claim vehemently denied by the Uganda Prisons Service.
Despite a Supreme Court order mandating his release, Besigye remains in detention. His visibly frail condition, characterized by weakness and difficulty breathing, elicited strong emotional responses from his supporters.
Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, a long-standing ally of Besigye, painted a concerning picture of his deteriorating health, highlighting the gravity of his situation.
“Our leader @kizzabesigye1 is visibly unwell, he is gasping for air and is in a sorry state. This is painful and hard to take in!” she posted on X.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as many witnesses struggled to contain their tears. Besigye’s aide, Ronald Muhinda, openly expressed his distress. “It is deeply painful to see Kizza Besigye in this condition,” Muhinda stated, emphasizing his refusal to visit Besigye in prison due to the dehumanizing nature of his confinement. He further criticized President Museveni and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for their actions.
Besigye’s continued detention has raised serious concerns. Despite a Supreme Court ruling last month declaring that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, Besigye, arrested on November 16th of the previous year on charges of treachery, remains in custody.
This raises questions about the government’s respect for judicial decisions.
While Uganda Prisons maintains that Besigye is in good health at Luzira Prison and receiving proper care, these claims directly contradict the accounts of Besigye’s associates, including Muhinda, who have described a concerning deterioration in his health.
Political analyst and journalist Yusuf Sserunkuma issued a stark warning, emphasizing the potential for serious consequences arising from Besigye’s prolonged detention.
“Whoever is calling the shots to continue incarcerating Dr. Kizza Besigye is risking all of us,” he wrote.
“Museveni’s son, folks at CMI, ISO, UPDF, or wherever & whoever – this is very risky gambling. We’ll all burn. Dr. Besigye is not the enemy. Dr Besigye is unwell. Stop these games.”
The deteriorating health of Dr. Kizza Besigye and the continued refusal to grant his release, despite a ruling from the Supreme Court, have once again raised serious concerns about judicial independence and political freedoms in Uganda.
