KAMPALA – Hon. Eng. Winnie Byanyima, wife of Uganda’s opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has raised alarm over his deteriorating health condition following a visit to his detention cell. Besigye, a staunch government critic, has reportedly gone five days without food, leading to significant weight loss and severe weakness.
Byanyima, who visited Besigye in his prison cell, described the conditions as inhumane and humiliating. “He was lying on a small bed that occupies the entire length of the room. A pile of old newspapers and two old cardboard boxes next to his bed left room for just one stool to sit on,” she revealed.
The opposition figure is being held in a facility with heightened security measures. “There were about six or seven locked doors that I went through before getting to his room, which is along a dark and narrow corridor. Someone told me that this is the special prison for suspected terrorists,” Byanyima added, further condemning the treatment of her husband.
Outraged by what she termed as illegal detention and kidnapping, Byanyima has demanded the immediate release of Besigye. “Kizza Besigye is weak, has lost alarming weight, and is dizzy. This is not just illegal detention; it is kidnapping. I am outraged and demand that Gen Kaguta Museveni and his son, the army chief, release him immediately. He is a citizen with rights—just like them!” she declared.
Byanyima also addressed recent claims made by Information Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who stated that Besigye was in good health following a visit. According to Byanyima, Besigye neither invited nor consented to seeing Baryomunsi. “A prison officer forced him into the room. Mr. Baryomunsi lied about having a conversation—Kizza Besigye remained completely silent in protest. Baryomunsi ranted, heard not a single word in response, and left,” she recounted.
She further accused Baryomunsi of misrepresenting the facts about Besigye’s health to the public. “After forcing his way into his room, Mr. Baryomunsi declared him ‘well’—acting as nothing more than a Public Relations officer for Kaguta Museveni and his son’s sinister kidnap scheme.”
The opposition leader’s detention and reported mistreatment have sparked fresh concerns over the Ugandan government’s handling of political dissidents. Byanyima lamented the continued impunity and disregard for fundamental rights. “The humiliation is endless. No one should be subjected to this,” she asserted.
As pressure mounts, calls for Besigye’s release continue to grow, with activists and opposition members denouncing what they describe as political persecution. The government, however, remains silent on the matter, leaving uncertainty over Besigye’s fate in detention.
