Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye starts hunger strike over continued detention at Luzira Prison

Uganda's foremost opposition leader Kizza Besigye has gone on hunger strike to protest his continued imprisonment.

According to a report obtained by The Eastleigh Voice, the veteran opposition politician and staunch critic of President Yoweri Museveni and his government began a hunger strike in Luzira Prison on Monday.

The protest comes as police arrested people demonstrating against Besigye's detention, while at the same time escorting supporters of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on a separate march.

"Yes. It is true that Besigye has started a hunger strike at Luzira Prison," confirmed a source who requested anonymity.

The veteran opposition politician has been remanded at the Kampala-based prison since October last year following his controversial arrest from Nairobi.

Last month, Uganda's Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, chaired by West Budama North East MP Fox Odoi was directed to visit Besigye in prison following concerns about his deteriorating health and allegations that prison authorities had denied him food brought by his family.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa issued this directive amidst heated debate in Parliament as opposition MPs demanded urgent intervention.

The urgency intensified after photos of Besigye's frail appearance at Buganda Road Court surfaced on social media, sparking public concern. These images came a week after Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura alleged that Besigye had gone on a hunger strike to protest the prison's refusal to allow food deliveries from his family.

Human rights violations

Opposition MPs criticised the government for its delay in addressing human rights violations at Luzira Prison. Buhweju County Francis Mwijukye stressed that Parliament must act decisively.

"The issue of Dr Besigye has come up multiple times. Pictures of him looking frail and sickly are circulating widely. As Parliament, we must act to ensure the rights of prisoners are upheld," Mwijukye said.

Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa echoed these concerns, warning against a potential policy shift in the treatment of political prisoners.

"Parliament cannot afford to wait until Tuesday. The treatment of Dr Besigye raises serious questions about human rights violations," Basalirwa argued.

Basalirwa said that if Besigye dies in prison, it would send a very bad signal to parliament for not speaking out.

"If Dr Besigye dies in prison – God forbid – it will send a very bad signal to this institution; that something happened, we were around, and we didn't speak out. I wouldn't like that under your tenure, a leading opposition politician, who, by the way, as we celebrate 39 years of the NRM, was one of the people who brought this government to power, is dying in the regime he facilitated to come to power," Basalirwa said.

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Reports indicate that the four-time presidential contender had also declined to see his lawyers in protest against his continued detention following the January 31 landmark Supreme Court judgment that ordered for the immediate cessation of prosecution of civilians in the General Court Martial and transfer of their files to ordinary courts with competent jurisdiction.

Protesters arrested

Besigye's new situation comes even as Kampala police apprehended four people in two separate incidents over their protest against the continued detention of him, his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale and other civilians, mostly opposition supporters who were being tried in military courts.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the arrest of four people, including the Peoples Front for Freedom (PFF) promoter, Ingrid Turinawe; James Ssuna, a human rights activist and two others who were not immediately identified. They were arrested at Parliament Gate and Constitution Square.

Besigye and Lutale have been facing charges related to security, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and treachery in the court martial. But on January 31, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional to try civilians before the military courts, citing a lack of independence, impartiality and fairness by the army court given that they are directly appointed by President Museveni to whom they pay allegiance.