By Our Reporter,
KAMPALA
On Wednesday, opposition leader Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye appeared at Buganda Road Court looking frail, causing an emotional reaction among his supporters, many of whom broke down in tears in the courtroom gallery.
Besigye remains remanded at Luzira Prison on what his supporters call trumped-up charges of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition, and treachery allegedly committed in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Netherlands. He has reportedly gone on a hunger strike out of fear of being poisoned. His weak appearance and difficulty in breathing have raised concerns, although prison authorities insist that he is not on a hunger strike.
The four-time presidential candidate’s deteriorating health has sparked public debate, with opposition figures drawing parallels to the late Muhammad Ssegirinya, the former Kawempe North MP who died in January from a mysterious illness he allegedly contracted while on remand at Luzira Prison. Critics warn that Uganda may be witnessing another case of government and prison negligence leading to the death of a political detainee.
Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor and political activist Doreen Nyanjura expressed alarm over Besigye’s condition in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“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 wrote.
Ronald Muhinda, an aide to Besigye, also spoke out, criticizing President Yoweri Museveni and his son, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, alleging a conspiracy to eliminate Besigye.
“PAINFUL! As someone I venerate, I refuse to visit Kizza Besigye in prison because I hate to see him in a yellow uniform. At court today, seeing him in this state got me shedding tears,” Muhinda posted on X.
Concerns over Besigye’s safety have been further fueled by past statements from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Opposition figures cite a post on Muhoozi’s official X account in which he allegedly threatened to publicly hang Besigye on May 1. This has heightened fears among opposition politicians, who now accuse the government of secretly plotting to assassinate him.
Besigye was arrested on November 16 in Nairobi, Kenya, alongside his ally Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya. He was later charged with treachery in a military court. However, his release remains uncertain, despite a Supreme Court ruling last month directing that all civilians be tried in civilian courts.
The prolonged incarceration of Dr. Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners has reignited concerns over judicial independence and political freedoms in Uganda.
