Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, has called on opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye to end his hunger strike as the government works to move his case from the General Court Martial to a civilian court.
Baryomunsi made the appeal after visiting Besigye, who is currently held at Luzira Prison. During his visit, he was accompanied by Besigye’s personal doctors.
“I just visited Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira Prison in the presence of his personal doctors. I advised him to start eating again as we expedite the process of transferring his case from the military court to a civilian court,” Baryomunsi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
While Baryomunsi did not specify a timeline for the case transfer, his statement indicates that discussions are ongoing.
Opposition groups and human rights organizations have consistently called for Besigye’s release, arguing that his trial by a military court is unlawful.
Besigye, who has been detained for nearly three months despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering his release, became visibly ill during his last court appearance, sparking emotional responses from his supporters.
Arrested on November 16, 2024, and charged with treason, Besigye was supposed to be freed after the Supreme Court ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts. However, he remains in custody at Luzira Prison, raising concerns about the government’s disregard for the court’s ruling and the independence of the judiciary.
The Uganda Prisons Service has rejected reports that Besigye is on a hunger strike, asserting that he is in good health and receiving proper care. However, his supporters dispute this, pointing to his weakened condition in court.
Over the weekend, Besigye’s family expressed concern after the Uganda Prisons Service requested his personal doctor. They pointed out the contradiction, as prison authorities had previously denied him medical care.
Besigye’s in-laws, including his wife Winnie Byanyima’s siblings—Edith, Olivia, Martha, Anthony, and Abraham—held a press conference to voice their concerns. “We are deeply alarmed. After weeks of denying him medical care, why now the sudden urgency for his doctor? We fear his health is deteriorating,” they said.
They also called on President Yoweri Museveni to take full responsibility for Besigye’s well-being and urged religious leaders and the international community to intervene. There has been no official response from the government regarding these concerns.
