Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday took to social media site X to acknowledge the concerns by Ugandans and some members of the international community who are calling for the release of Kizza Besigye, a prominent opposition leader who recently embarked on a hunger strike in protest of his detention.
In his X posts, Museveni said Ugandans who aspire for a “stable country” should question “why was Dr.Besigye arrested?”
“The answer to that is a quick trial so that facts come out. Otherwise, you are promoting insecurity which is very dangerous for the country,” Museveni said.
Museveni said Besigye’s trial process was slowed down by a recent Supreme Court verdict which said the opposition leader could not face trial in a military court, ordering the transfer of cases to civilian courts.
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“If you are innocent, why do you not demand for a quick trial so that you can prove your innocence and expose those who are ‘persecuting’ you instead of demanding bail, forgiveness, as if serious crime also entitled to holidays?” the Ugandan president said.
Museveni also spoke on Besigye’s health.
“On the issue of sickness, there is, first of all, a government hospital in the prison. Besides, Dr. Besigye’s personal doctors have been visiting him and even taking him to private clinics,” Museveni said.
“If there was need for any additional medical care, the government would be advised,” he added.
The president’s social media posts came after the Commonwealth, a 56-nation group which includes Uganda, called for Besigye’s release, arguing that his detention undermined democracy and human rights.
Through an online statement also published on X, Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, said the group is “saddened and deeply troubled by the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, Haji Obeid Lutale and Eron Kiiza, which undermines the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda on 31 January 2025, and the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
Scotland also expressed concern over “reports regarding Dr. Besigye’s health” and urged Ugandan authorities “to ensure he receives the best possible medical.”
