Ugandan Politician's Christmas Visit Ban Sparks Outrage

Mon Feb 03 2025 03:13:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)
Ugandan Politician's Christmas Visit Ban Sparks Outrage

Kizza Besigye's wife criticizes a prison ban on holiday visits, expressing fears for her husband's safety.


Winnie Byanyima condemns the decision to prohibit visitors on Christmas Day for prisoners, particularly concerned about the welfare of her husband, Kizza Besigye, who is being held in military detention on serious charges.


The wife of Kizza Besigye, a prominent opposition politician detained in Uganda, has expressed her outrage over a ban prohibiting prison visits on Christmas Day, calling it "cruel and inhumane." Besigye, 68, is currently facing charges in military court related to firearm possession and alleged attempts to acquire weapons from abroad, accusations he strongly denies. His trial has been postponed until next month.

As part of increased security measures, prison authorities announced a seven-day restriction on visits starting Christmas Eve, aiming to mitigate potential unrest. Winnie Byanyima, who heads the UN's HIV and Aids organization, revealed her intention to stay outside Luzira Prison on Christmas Day to ensure she can deliver food and see her husband. "He is strong and persevering," she stated, while worrying about the conditions he faces, confined in a small cell behind layers of prison security. "I don’t trust them with him, even for a day," she added, implying her intention to remain vigilantly present at the prison gates, even considering setting up a tent.

Besigye, who previously challenged President Yoweri Museveni in four elections, has seen his political activity diminish in recent years. His recent prominence in the news stemmed from being forcibly returned to Uganda during a visit to Kenya, resulting in his current military charges alongside an aide, Obeid Lutale, who also denies any wrongdoing.

In response to the visitor ban, Uganda Prisons Services spokesperson Frank Baine Mayanja defended the measure, citing security concerns related to increased excitement during the holiday season, suggesting that inmates might contemplate escape. Ms. Byanyima condemned this rationale, expressing immediate concern about the leadership transition at Luzira Prison and the selection of a relatively inexperienced individual to oversee operations.

Mayanja characterized the leadership change as an administrative move unrelated to Besigye's situation, urging Ms. Byanyima to trust the authorities caring for her husband, asserting that they have protocols in place to ensure his safety.

Besigye's current detention marks the second time he has spent Christmas behind bars; previously arrested in 2005 on treason charges that were later dismissed, he has often accused the government of politically motivated persecution. He has publicly objected to being tried by a military court, insisting that any charges should be heard in a civilian court setting. Meanwhile, Museveni has justified military court jurisdiction for gun-related crimes, insisting that civilian courts are too slow.

Opposition voices continue to highlight perceived limits on their political freedoms under Museveni's nearly 40-year rule. While government supporters insist these measures are crucial for national stability, the political tension in Uganda remains palpable as Besigye's case unfolds.

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