Besigye's wife demands immediate release of husband after one year in detention
Besigye, who faces military court charges, has remained in custody despite repeated calls for bail and mounting concerns over his health. He is accused of possessing an illegal firearm and treachery, charges his supporters say are politically motivated.
Wife of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, Winnie Byanyima, has called for the immediate release of her husband as he marks one year in detention following his abduction from Nairobi.
Besigye, who faces military court charges, has remained in custody despite repeated calls for bail and mounting concerns over his health. He is accused of possessing an illegal firearm and treachery, charges his supporters say are politically motivated.
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Byanyima said the prolonged imprisonment is “an endless injustice,” urging authorities to uphold his right to a fair trial. She expressed concern that the case against Besigye has seen little progress, citing military detention, illegal confinement and repeated denial of bail as key issues.
“It is now one year since my spouse, Dr Kizza Besigye, was abducted from Nairobi and taken to prison in Uganda. A year later, the case against him has not moved in court. Endless injustice: military detention, illegal confinement, denial of bail. A justice system captured,” she wrote on X.
She described Besigye’s detention as part of a broader pattern of repression in Uganda, saying it is driven by his political views and his challenge to President Yoweri Museveni.
“Because he has different views. Because he has dared to compete for the presidency. Because in Uganda, dissent is treated as a crime and those who challenge authoritarian rule are punished rather than heard,” Byanyima said.
She noted that many young activists face similar fates, including disappearances, detention without charge, torture and extrajudicial killings.
“What is happening to Kizza Besigye is not unique. It is the fate of countless Ugandans, especially young activists, who disappear, are detained without charge, tortured, or even killed. Our nation’s future is being brutalised into silence,” she noted.
Byanyima recounted Besigye’s long history of activism and service. She described him as a national hero who survived illegal detention during the Obote II regime at the Nile Hotel basement, fled into exile and returned to join Uganda’s struggle for freedom.
After the war, she said he built up the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as National Political Commissar, shaping structures across the country. As a member of the National Resistance Council and the Constituent Assembly, Byanyima said her husband spoke his truth, always grounded in the NRM’s original vision of democracy, human rights and social justice.
She highlighted that Besigye’s disagreement with Museveni began when the ruling party’s vision was betrayed, leading him to break with the NRM following the 2001 elections.
“In November 2005, 20 years ago, he was charged with treason, terrorism, illegal possession of weapons, and even rape. All false accusations. He faced trial and was exonerated,” she said.
Byanyima insisted that Besigye’s commitment to democracy, human rights and equality has never wavered.
“No amount of imprisonment or persecution can make him abandon the struggle for a free Uganda,” she said.
She called on President Museveni and the judiciary to free Besigye and his co-accused, Obed Lutale, describing their continued detention as “a stain on our nation.”
“Today, I call on Gen. Kaguta Museveni and the captured judiciary to free Kizza Besigye and Obed Lutale. Their continued detention is a stain on our nation. Uganda must reclaim its humanity,” she said.
Byanyima also praised the legal team defending Besigye, including People Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Erias Lukwago, Ernest Kalibala and Prossy Kunihira.
“Your courage in court, your clarity, and your commitment to justice keep hope alive. Uganda is indebted to you,” she said, adding tribute to lawyers who have supported Besigye over decades.
Byanyima stressed the importance of upholding legal principles and the right to bail, affirming that the presumption of innocence is a fundamental doctrine of law. She insisted that granting bail is not a favour but a legal right, calling on authorities to respect justice and the rule of law by ensuring their immediate release.
“Innocent until proven guilty’ is not just a saying; it is a fundamental doctrine of our law. It is a gross injustice that Kizza Besigye and Obed Lutale have spent an entire year in a prison cell, denied bail, while the State continues to ‘gather evidence’ against them. In the name of justice and the rule of law, KB and Obed must be granted mandatory bail. It is not a favour, it is their right,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to family, friends, and supporters for their solidarity throughout the year of detention.
“To our family and dear friends who have walked with us from the day Besigye was abducted, we thank you. Your love, your vigilance, your prayers, your presence at every hearing… You have carried us through a year of fear, uncertainty, and courage. We are never alone,” she said.
“To all supporters across Uganda and abroad who have believed in Besigye, stood in the sun and the rain, sung freedom songs, turned up in courts, and defended truth, thank you. You are the reason he fights every day. Your resilience is his fuel. Many of you have been persecuted, beaten, detained, or forced into exile simply for standing for justice. Your courage humbles us. You are the true custodians of Uganda’s democratic dream.”
She maintained that the struggle surrounding her husband has never been about a single individual but reflects a broader fight for Uganda’s freedom. Byanyima insisted that together, they remain unbroken and expressed hope that Uganda will ultimately rise.
Besigye’s detention, which began on November 16, 2024, followed his arrest in Nairobi while attending Senior Council Martha Karua’s book launch. He and Lutale appeared in a military court in Kampala on November 20, 2024, on charges of possessing an illegal firearm. They pleaded not guilty and were remanded at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In January 2025, a military court ruled that Besigye could be tried for treachery. On February 14, he appeared at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court, looking frail, with lawyers arguing that proceedings could not continue without violating his human rights.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling halting trials of civilians in military courts, Besigye remains on remand facing court-martial charges.
On September 8, Karua raised concerns over Besigye’s health, noting bouts of dizziness and other complications due to prolonged incarceration.
“We were informed that Dr Kizza Besigye is unwell; he is having bouts of dizziness, and he needs to be seen by the doctors and diagnosed. We have brought it to the attention of the Lord Mayor. As the lawyer on record handling the matter, they will be able to deal with it. The mayor, with his team, will be able to take that up. It is concerning that the health of Dr Besigye has been greatly compromised by his lengthy and unnecessary incarceration,” Karua said.
Besigye’s detention has drawn widespread concern both within Uganda and internationally, with calls for his release and adherence to due process continuing to grow.
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