Detained Ugandan Politician's Wife Calls for Christmas Visit: "Cruel and Inhumane" Ban

Amidst a seven-day ban on prison visits during the Christmas season, Winnie Byanyima has condemned the decision as inhumane, expressing her intent to deliver food to her husband, Kizza Besigye, who is detained and facing military charges.

The wife of detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye has voiced her outrage at a Christmas Day ban on prisoner visits, labeling the restriction as "cruel and inhumane." Besigye, who is 68 years old, has been charged in a military court for possession of firearms and attempting to acquire weapons abroad, allegations he staunchly denies. His trial is anticipated to resume next month.

Prison authorities announced that to avert "potential security lapses," no visitors would be permitted for inmates for seven days starting from Christmas Eve. Winnie Byanyima, head of the UN's campaign against HIV and Aids and Besigye's wife, stated her determination to camp outside Luzira Prison on Christmas Day to ensure she can see her husband and bring him food.

"I'm not leaving Besigye's food at the gate as directed. I will go there and see my husband because I don't trust them with him even for a single day," she emphasized during an interview with the BBC. Byanyima conveyed that while Besigye remains resilient in his confinement, her worries about his well-being are acute: “Maybe I will take a tent and sleep there… if that's what they want.”

Besigye has a notable history in Ugandan politics, having run against President Yoweri Museveni in four presidential elections since 1986, the year Museveni assumed power. Though less politically active recently, Besigye resurfaced in the news following his dramatic abduction in Kenya, where he was forcibly brought back to Uganda. He was charged alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, who also denies any wrongdoing.

The military court has since extended Besigye's detention until January 7, effectively thwarting his family’s wishes for his release by Christmas. Frank Baine Mayanja, spokesperson for Uganda Prisons Services, explained that the seven-day restriction was instituted to tighten security during the festive period and to prevent potential escapes. He noted, “Christmas causes excitement and the majority of prisoners do not want to have Christmas inside. They must be planning on how to do a prison break and go outside,” during commentary on NTV Uganda.

Initially, the prison officials proposed an even longer visitor prohibition, but this was eventually reduced to one week. Byanyima also voiced concerns regarding recent leadership changes at Luzira prison, questioning the appointment of a "young and inexperienced" official, and expressed distrust for the individuals overseeing Besigye's care.

“I do not trust his life with those who abducted him. I will seek to see him as often as I can,” she insisted. On the other hand, Mayanja reassured her that the authorities have the capacity to ensure her husband’s safety, adding, “I think she should let us do our job.”

This Christmas marks the second time Besigye has spent the festive season behind bars; his previous incarceration occurred in 2005 when he was arrested after a political rally. Historical charges against him—ranging from treason to rape—have all been dismissed in the past, which he asserts were attempts at political persecution. Currently, he contests being tried in a military court rather than a civilian tribunal, calling for legal changes amidst Museveni’s defense of military trials for serious crimes involving firearms.

As the Ugandan government continues to face scrutiny over its treatment of political opposition, Museveni's ruling party claims that measures have ensured the stability of the nation during nearly four decades of leadership.