On the first anniversary of the arrest and continued detention of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, his wife and UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, issued a strong call for his unconditional release, condemning what she described as “relentless injustice” and a judicial system “compromised” by political pressure.
Besigye and his aide, Haji Obeid Lutale, have been incarcerated at Luzira Maximum Security Prison since they were apprehended in Nairobi on 16 November 2024 and subsequently transferred to Kampala. Courts have repeatedly rejected several applications for bail, despite appeals referencing Besigye’s advanced age and the extended period he has spent on remand.
Byanyima underscored the political motivations behind his detention, portraying it as part of a long-standing response to Besigye’s persistent opposition to President Yoweri Museveni. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), she condemned what she described as Uganda’s ongoing repression of dissent, stating:
“What Besigye is facing is not unusual. It mirrors the experiences of many Ugandans, particularly young activists, who are abducted, detained without due process, tortured, or even killed. The future of our country is being silenced through violence.”
She accused the judiciary of being compromised and made a direct plea to President Museveni:
“I urge Gen. Museveni and the compromised judiciary to free Besigye and Obeid Lutale. Keeping them in detention dishonours our nation.”
Widely seen as Uganda’s most influential opposition leader, Besigye has a long record of clashes with the state. Since 2001, he has been arrested numerous times over his political activities, faced treason and rape charges, endured violent arrests during the 2011 Walk-to-Work protests, and been confined to his home during the 2016 elections. Although he stepped back from contesting the presidency after 2016, he has remained a central opposition voice.
Byanyima also pointed to Besigye’s role in the liberation struggle, noting that he abandoned his medical career in Nairobi to join the National Resistance Army (NRA) in the 1980s. He served as one of only two doctors in the bush war and acted as Museveni’s personal physician in key battles. She emphasised his contributions to democracy, human rights, and social justice through roles such as National Political Commissar and as a member of both the National Resistance Council and the Constituent Assembly.
Attempts to secure his release on bail have consistently failed. In April 2025, High Court Justice Rosette Comfort Kania dismissed their initial formal bail application, citing potential risks to ongoing investigations. Subsequent mandatory bail applications were rejected for procedural and jurisdictional reasons. The defence continues to argue that the State has delayed and mishandled the case.
Byanyima warned that Uganda’s climate of fear and repression endangers the country’s future:
“Our nation’s moral core is in jeopardy. Uganda must rediscover its humanity. No level of imprisonment or persecution will make him abandon the fight for a free Uganda.”
After a year in maximum-security custody and with his trial stalled, Besigye’s political trajectory is unclear, though his supporters insist he remains steadfast.
