Uganda faces mounting political turmoil as opposition figure Kizza Besigye, visibly frail during a civilian court appearance Wednesday, remains detained despite growing demands for his release. The four-time presidential candidate, held since November 2023, faces unverified treason charges while his health declines under maximum-security imprisonment.
Besigye’s legal team argued his medical condition renders him unfit for trial proceedings, but Justice officials claim they’re still reviewing evidence. “His continued detention raises serious questions about Uganda’s commitment to upholding the rule of law,” stated the Commonwealth Secretariat, which urged immediate release for Besigye and aide Obeid Lutale.
Human rights organizations amplify concerns:
“Besigye’s abduction violated international law and due process protections,”declared Amnesty International. The activist’s family confirms he’s now on a hunger strike, protesting his incarceration following Uganda’s Supreme Court ruling barring military trials for civilians.
President Yoweri Museveni dismissed global appeals, insisting Besigye must answer for allegedly plotting national security threats. Military prosecutors accuse him of seeking European weapons to destabilize Uganda – claims his wife Winnie Byanyima calls fabricated. Army commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son, escalated rhetoric on social media:
“Besigye wanted to kill my father. He deserves execution.”
Analysts warn Besigye’s treatment could ignite civil unrest ahead of 2026 elections. Museveni, in power since 1986, faces succession speculation amid ruling party fractures. With no clear successor, many fear Uganda’s first peaceful power transfer remains improbable.
Key developments driving this crisis include:
- Military tribunal charges dismissed under Supreme Court order
- Besigye’s disputed November abduction from Nairobi
- International pressure from Commonwealth and human rights groups
Besigye’s case underscores Uganda’s fragility as Museveni clings to authority. A former army colonel and presidential physician, the detained leader symbolizes resistance against a regime accused of eroding democratic norms. Observers stress that resolving this standoff peacefully will test Uganda’s stability in coming months.
