‘I am devastated’ – Besigye’s wife raises concerns as he is sent back to detention

‘I am devastated’ – Besigye’s wife raises concerns as he is sent back to detention

Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, lamented over the continued detention of his husband amid deteriorating health.

Byanyima noted that she was expecting to pick Besigye and go back with him home after months of being held in detention. She, however, expressed sadness over the decision not to let him free after he was presented in a civilian court on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Byanyima pointed an accusing finger at President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, absolved himself from the matter and called out Besigye for blackmailing the government after he went on a hunger strike.

Byanyima who is also UNAIDS executive director rallied Ugandans to push for the release of Besigye whose health she argued was getting worse.

“I came here expecting to take Dr Kizza Besigye home today. I’m devastated but I’m not surprised. Besigye is a captive. He was kidnapped and he is in captivity.

“Shame on this cadre judge for sending my husband back to jail when his health is deteriorating fast. But it’s all on President Museveni and his son [Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba] who’s the chief of the army who are holding all of us captive. We must liberate ourselves. Enough is enough,” a visibly charged Byanyima said.

Martha Karua was among those who flew to Uganda but she was barred from representing the Ugandan opposition leader due to licensing issues.

Deteriorating health

Before appearing in court, Byanyima had detailed how Besigye was being treated where he was being held. In a series of social media posts, she revealed that his husband was weak and dizzy.

She added that Besigye had been assigned a small bed and there were old newspapers and boxes next to his bed which could not allow her enough space to sit down when she visited.

“Kizza Besigye is weak, has lost alarming weight, and is dizzy—he hasn’t eaten in 5 days. This is not just illegal detention; it is kidnapping. I am outraged and demand that Kaguta Museveni and his son, the army chief, release him immediately. He is a citizen with rights—just like them!”

“He was lying on a small bed that occupies the whole length of the room. A pile of old newspapers and two old cardboard boxes next to his bed left room for one stool to sit on,” she narrated.

Despite the uproar, President Museveni maintained that he had no hand in the continued detention insisting that the Supreme Court directed the matter to be moved from a military court to a civilian one.

He thus challenged Besigye’s legal team to expedite the hearing of the matter but insisted the opposition must face the law and answer to the charges levelled against him.

International organisations have also added weight to the matter including the Commonwealth Secretariat accusing Uganda of violating international law.