Wife of jailed veteran politician Dr Kizza Besigye , Eng. Winnie Byanyima has appealed to President Museveni to release him castigating what she described as “endless injustice” and a “justice system captured” by political influence.
Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale, have been held at Luzira prison since their arrest on November 16, 2024 days after being abducted from neigbouring Kenya by Ugandan security operatives .
Multiple bail applications have been rejected, including one that cited Besigye’s age and his prolonged pre-trial detention.
A former Museveni ally and onetime personal physician, Besigye became his most persistent challenger, running against him in four presidential elections whose results he repeatedly contested.
According to Eng. Byanyima, who is also the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Besigye’s political disagreements with President Museveni dates back to the 2021 General Election ,he described as violent and fraudulent .
Before becoming a long-time opposition figure, Besigye played a key role in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Uganda’s liberation struggle that shot Museveni to power.
“He (Besigye) left his job as a medical doctor at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, joined Museveni in the bush war, and served with courage. One of only two doctors in the NRA, he fought in all major battles and saved countless lives, including as Museveni’s personal doctor…/5,” Byanyima detailed his service and wartime sacrifices on Sunday while marking one year of her husband’s incarceration .Byanyima revealed that Besigye later served as National Political Commissar, contributing to the NRM’s structures nationwide, and as a member of the National Resistance Council and Constituent Assembly, advocating for democracy, human rights, and social justice.
“After the war, he built up the NRM as National Political Commissar, shaping structures across the country. As a member of the NRC and the Constituent Assembly, he spoke his truth – always grounded in the NRM’s original vision: democracy, human rights, and social justice…/6”
Byanyima framed Besigye’s current detention as tied to his political activity and presidential ambitions.
“Why is he being held? 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…/2,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Still on Sunday, the UNAIDS chief also called out a pattern of repression affecting young activists and political opponents to Uganda’s ruling class since 1986.
“What is happening to @kizzabesigye1 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…./3”
She added: “Through it all, KB has never wavered. His commitment to fight for democracy, human rights, and equality has never been shaken. No amount of imprisonment or persecution can make him abandon the struggle for a free Uganda…/9”
Calling Besigye “a national hero,” Byanyima sought to evoke his long record of activism and sacrifice, noting that he had previously escaped illegal detention.
“Allow me to remind you who Kizza Besigye is,” she wrote. “He is a national hero who escaped illegal detention under the Obote II regime at the notorious Nile Hotel basement. He fled to exile, but when Uganda needed him, he returned to join the struggle for freedom…/4”
Besigye and Lutale’s bail applications have faced repeated legal obstacles. In April 2025, Justice Rosette Comfort Kania denied their initial bail request, citing concerns they could interfere with investigations and emphasizing the seriousness of the treason charges.
Subsequent applications for mandatory bail were rejected on jurisdictional and procedural grounds, including rulings from Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Criminal Division of the High Court.
Despite the legal challenges, Byanyima and Besigye’s legal team continue to press for his release, citing prolonged detention without “proper handling” of the case.
“Today I call on Gen.@KagutaMuseveni and the captured judiciary to free @kizzabesigye1 and Obed Lutale. Their continued detention is a stain on our nation. #Uganda must reclaim its humanity. #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersInUganda,” Byanyima extended her appeal directly to Museveni, 82,who is seeking to extend his rule beyond 40 years .