By Kamugisha Leonard Akida
KAMPALA
Government has dismissed allegations that jailed opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye is critically ill and has been denied medical care while in custody, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said Dr Besigye only suffered a minor bout of diarrhoea which was promptly treated by his personal doctors and that he is now in good health.
“A few days back, Dr Besigye just got some minor diarrhoea illness and he was attended to by his personal doctors and he is now well,” Baryomunsi said.
His remarks follow reports last week that Dr Besigye was rushed to a medical facility in Bugolobi in critical condition, sparking concern from his family. His wife, Eng Winnie Byanyima, had criticised what she described as secrecy surrounding his medical transfer and lack of communication from prison authorities, saying her husband was seriously ill and unable to access his doctors.
However, Baryomunsi rejected the claims, saying Dr Besigye is living normally within Luzira Prison.
“He is living his usual life within Luzira prison,” the minister said, adding that assertions that the inmate was seriously sick or denied access to personal doctors were untrue.
“So, contrary to what had been said by his wife, that he is seriously sick and that he is not able to access his personal doctors, that’s not true. I have spoken to prison authorities. I have also personally spoken to his personal doctors, who include his own biological siblings,” Baryomunsi said.
He accused some actors of politicising Besigye’s detention by spreading misinformation, and called for his speedy trial.
“While we sympathise with Dr Besigye because he is still in prison, it would be wrong to always want to over-politicise his situation by falsifying information,” he said, adding that what government seeks is a speedy trial so that the matter is resolved by the courts.
