KIZZA Besigye, the prominent Ugandan opposition leader, has allegedly been kidnapped and is now being held in a military prison in Kampala, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima.
Byanyima took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, revealing that Besigye had been seized during a book launch in Nairobi, Kenya, last Saturday. The 68-year-old former doctor to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was reportedly taken into custody by Ugandan authorities.
‘I am reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,’ Byanyima stated. She further demanded his immediate release, saying: ‘We his family and his lawyers demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?’
Besigye has long been a vocal critic of Museveni’s government and has unsuccessfully contested for the presidency four times, accusing the regime of rigging elections. His political activities and accusations of government corruption have made him a frequent target of arrests, with authorities charging him for inciting violence in the past.
Byanyima, a human rights advocate and the executive director of UNAIDS, expressed her concern over her husband’s detention, as well as her belief that it was a politically motivated action by the Ugandan government.
The government has not yet issued an official response to these latest allegations, but Besigye’s supporters are demanding transparency and the assurance of his safety while in custody.
As an outspoken opponent of Museveni’s extended rule since 1986, Besigye has endured repeated harassment, including injuries sustained from police violence during previous protests. Despite this, his resolve to challenge the political status quo in Uganda remains steadfast.
