Winnie Byanyima Reveals the Dire Health Condition of Detained Kizza Besigye
Winnie Byanyima, the wife of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, has raised alarm over what she described as the rapidly deteriorating health of her husband, who is currently being held at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In a statement issued after a recent visit by Besigye’s personal physician, Byanyima said the veteran opposition figure is in declining physical condition and is responding slowly and painfully to treatment while in custody.
According to Byanyima, the doctor observed that Besigye was too weak to walk unassisted from his cell to the visitors’ reception area and had to support himself against the prison walls to avoid falling after the consultation.
“His condition continues to deteriorate. He is only beginning to respond, slowly and painfully, to treatment,” Byanyima said in her update.
She further described the conditions under which Besigye is being held as harsh and detrimental to his recovery, citing excessive heat, lack of adequate lighting, and a bedbug-infested cell.
“The cell is extremely hot, dark, and infested with bedbugs. These conditions are dangerous for someone in his state and are seriously undermining his recovery,” she added.
Byanyima also highlighted concerns over Besigye’s nutrition, revealing that during an eight-hour period, he had only consumed a small piece of yam and half an avocado, underscoring the severity of his physical weakness.
“Every day that he remains ill, every day that he is forced to endure pain, weakness, and the humiliation of these appalling prison conditions, is the responsibility of his captors,” she said. “President Museveni and his son, the army commander, are directly accountable for his suffering.”
She questioned the continued detention of Besigye, noting that he has been denied bail on four separate occasions despite the legal presumption of innocence.
“We demand his immediate release on bail, access to proper medical care now, and an end to the deliberate cruelty being inflicted on him,” Byanyima said.
Dr Besigye, a former personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni, has been one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures for over two decades. He later emerged as a leading human rights activist and opposition leader, playing a key role in shaping Uganda’s political landscape. He is also known for mentoring a new generation of opposition politicians, including musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Besigye’s detention has drawn concern from human rights organisations and opposition supporters, who have repeatedly called for his release or transfer to a medical facility to address his health needs.
The latest developments come amid heightened political tension in Uganda following the conclusion of the country’s recent general election. On Saturday, January 17, President Museveni was declared the winner after securing 71.65 per cent of the total votes cast, translating to 7,946,772 votes. The outcome extended Museveni’s rule to a seventh term, having been in power since 1986.
The election results were disputed by opposition groups, who raised concerns over the conduct of the polls and the treatment of opposition leaders and supporters during the electoral period.
As pressure mounts from both local and international observers, calls continue for Ugandan authorities to address Besigye’s health concerns and uphold his rights while legal proceedings against him remain ongoing.
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Winnie Byanyima Reveals the Dire Health Condition of Detained Kizza Besigye
