By Ruth Nanyonga
KAMPALA. The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) acting party president Dr Michael Lulume Bayigga has dismissed as baseless reports that negotiations are underway between the government and Dr Kizza Besigye over the detained opposition leader’s release.
Dr Bayigga said neither PFF nor its known senior members have participated in negotiations over the detained veteran opposition figure’s release, adding that Dr Besigye wants bail to seek medical treatment and later face the law .
He revealed that him and Dr Ebuku Ekwaru visited Dr Besigye at a military health facility in Lubowa on Saturday, October 17, at the opposition leader’s invitation.
Dr Bayiga said Dr Besigye was fully conscious, could hear well and had near-normal thought and memory, although he remained unable to speak.
He said Dr Besigye communicated using an alphabet board, pointing to individual letters to form words. The opposition leader was also undergoing speech therapy and physiotherapy to help him regain his ability to speak and walk, according to Dr Bayiga.
During the visit, Dr Bayiga said, Dr Besigye sought clarification on media reports suggesting that negotiations with the government were underway to secure his release.
Dr Bayiga said Dr Besigye communicated that no government official or agent had approached him to discuss such negotiations.
“PFF has never been invited, never quoted, involved in any such negotiations at all, not even any party member that we know,” Bayiga said.
He added that Dr Besigye’s immediate priority was to secure bail to enable him to access medical treatment before returning to court to face the charges against him after recovering.
According to Dr Bayiga, Dr Besigye maintained that bail was a judicial matter that should be determined by the courts rather than through behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The detained opposition leader also believes that meaningful dialogue on Uganda’s future should follow a structured process involving all stakeholders, rather than focusing on individuals or a few entities, Dr Bayigga said.
Dr Besigye is facing treason charges alongside his political aide Obeid Lutale and UPDF Captain Denis Oola.
The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2024, the accused participated in meetings in Geneva, Athens and Nairobi where they allegedly discussed plans to overthrow the Ugandan government by force of arms.
The accused have denied the allegations.
The amended indictment further alleges that Dr Besigye solicited and received money to facilitate the movement of people to Kenya for training connected to the alleged plot.
Jailed veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye consults with one of his lawyers, Erias Lukwago, during court proceedings on February 24, 2026. His trial has continued in his absence after his health deteriorated and he stopped attending proceedings following his collapse in the dock at the High Court in Kampala.
Dr Besigye had also objected to a decision to proceed with his trial without his preferred lawyers.
The decision to continue the proceedings in his absence followed representations by prison authorities that he had declined to attend court and had refused to participate virtually despite being offered the option.
The prosecution has since presented its first witness, British-American national Andrew Wilson, also known as Orlando, who has tendered audio and video recordings and made allegations linking Dr Besigye to the alleged plot.
Lukwago faces separate charge
Mr Lukwago, who has previously represented Dr Besigye as one of his defence lawyers, is facing a separate charge of misprision of treason.
His admission to JCRC comes as he pursues his own legal proceedings and remains associated with Dr Besigye’s defence.
The Prisons Service’s confirmation of the medical evacuations comes amid growing concern from Dr Besigye’s family and supporters over his health and ability to participate in the ongoing trial.
Mr Baine maintained that the medical interventions were being undertaken in accordance with court orders and recommendations made by the team of medical experts from Mulago.