Summary:
“I have just visited Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira Prison, accompanied by his personal doctors. I have advised him to resume taking food, as the government works to fast-track the transfer of his case from the court martial to a civil court,” Minister Baryomunsi posted on his X handle.
KAMPALA: The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has urged four-time presidential candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, whose health is rapidly deteriorating in detention, to resume eating as the government expedites his case’s transfer from the court martial to a civil court.
Minister Baryomunsi made the statement on Sunday, February 16, 2025, after visiting Dr. Besigye at Luzira Prison.
“I have just visited Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira Prison, accompanied by his personal doctors. I have advised him to resume taking food, as the government works to fast-track the transfer of his case from the court martial to a civil court,” Minister Baryomunsi posted on his X handle.
The Minister’s appeal comes after Dr. Besigye’s family expressed growing concern over his prolonged detention, warning that his health was worsening as he continues his hunger strike in protest.
In a statement delivered by his sister, Edith Byanyima, the family condemned what they described as illegal detention in defiance of court orders, likening it to state-sanctioned abduction.
They also raised alarm over Dr. Besigye’s condition after receiving a surprising request to send his personal doctor to evaluate him—something authorities had previously denied.
“This sudden change fills us with fear. It suggests that his condition may have worsened. We are speaking out now because we fear the worst is imminent,” Edith Byanyima said.
The statement followed official assertions that Besigye was merely unwell, a claim the family vehemently refutes.
They insist that his ongoing hunger strike is a desperate act of protest against unlawful detention, not a result of illness.
“Every day of his illegal detention brings new pain to our family. We are not politicians seeking power or influence. We are simply a family terrified for his safety,” the statement read.
Dr. Kizza Besigye, a veteran opposition leader, has a long history of clashing with the government. He has been arrested numerous times over the years on charges ranging from inciting violence to treason.
His current detention follows his continued activism against economic hardship, governance issues, and human rights abuses in Uganda.
He was arrested in late January 2025 after attempting to mobilize protests against what he called “state-engineered economic oppression.”
A court ruling mandated his immediate release, yet security forces have continued to detain him, with legal experts and opposition figures accusing them of contempt of court.
Dr. Besigye has since gone on a hunger strike, refusing food to protest what he describes as “state brutality and judicial impunity.”
