The 68-year-old politician, who has contested the presidency four times against long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni, was charged alongside two others, though no pleas were entered as the defendants argued the charges required a higher court.

Besigye’s legal troubles began in November when he was reportedly abducted in Kenya and returned to Uganda to face a military trial.

However, a recent Supreme Court ruling deemed the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional, prompting the transfer of his case. This decision drew criticism from President Museveni, who labeled it “a wrong decision.”

During his detention, Besigye initiated a hunger strike in protest, which he has since called off, according to his lawyer, Erias Lukwago.

The charges against him allege that he conspired to overthrow Museveni’s government by force, including holding meetings in Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya between 2023 and November 2023 to secure military, financial, and logistical support.

Appearing visibly frail, Besigye was wheeled into the Nakawa Magistrate Court in Kampala alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, and co-accused Denis Oola, a military officer.

Notably, previous charges of illegal ammunition possession and treachery from the military court were dropped in the civilian case.

During the proceedings, Besigye’s lawyer requested his transfer to a better health facility, but Magistrate Esther Nyadoi denied the application, citing insufficient authority. The court remanded the accused until next month to allow prosecutors to complete their investigations.

Besigye, once Museveni’s personal doctor, has long accused the government of political persecution. While he has been less active in politics in recent years and did not run in the 2021 election, his case continues to draw significant attention amid concerns over Uganda’s political climate and judicial processes.

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KAMPALA. Opposition figures in expressed deep disillusionment on Wednesday after High Court Judge Isaac Singiza, described by critics as a “cadre judge,” ordered the return of ailing opposition leader Col. Kizza Besigye to Luzira Prison. Besigye.

A four-time presidential candidate and fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye was arrested alongside his aide, Obeid Kamulegeya, and has been held without a valid remand warrant, sparking outrage among his supporters and legal team.

Besigye’s appearance in court on Wednesday followed lawyers securing a *habeas corpus* application, demanding his release on medical grounds due to his deteriorating health. However, the court’s decision to send him back to prison without a clear remedy left his legal team and supporters stunned.

“This matter is supposed to be disposed of expeditiously. This is an emergency situation. Dr. Besigye was brought under very unreasonable circumstances and without a valid remand warrant. Yet, he has been returned to Luzira,”  his lawyer also Kampala Lord mayor  Erias Lukwago stated.

He expressed frustration at the lack of urgency in the case.

“We are walking away from court without a remedy. We expected an instant judgment. Unfortunately, it is not the case, and we have no clue when the remedy will be delivered. No decision. It is baffling,” Lukwago said.

Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife, checked executive of UNAIDS and a prominent activist, was visibly distraught.

“I came here expecting to take Dr. Besigye home today. I am devastated but not surprised. Besigye is a captive. He is in captivity, as we all are. Museveni has put all of us in captivity.

This cadre judge… shame on him. Shame on him for sending back to jail a man whose life is deteriorating very fast. But it’s all President Museveni and his insane son, who is the army commander,” she said.

Bobi Wine Condemns “Persecution”
Opposition leader and musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine also condemned the court’s decision, calling it a blatant act of persecution.

“This is not prosecution but persecution,” he said.

Wine further criticized Judge Singiza for his handling of previous cases, including one prior to the exile of  writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija and his disapproval of corruption charges against Members of Parliament accused of misusing public funds.

The case has reignited debates about judicial independence in Uganda, with critics accusing the judiciary of being compromised by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government. Besigye’s continued detention, despite his failing health, has become a rallying point for opposition supporters, who see it as emblematic of the broader crackdown on dissent under Museveni’s 39-year rule.

As Besigye remains behind bars, the opposition vows to continue fighting for his release and for what they call “the liberation of Uganda from captivity.”

Besigye a security threat- Museveni

Responding to online reports and pressure from Uganda’s opposition leaders, President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday maintained his hardline stance, insisting that Col. Kizza Besigye must undergo a legal process. Museveni’s comments came amid growing concerns over Besigye’s continued detention, with opposition figures and activists demanding his release on medical and humanitarian grounds.

In a statement addressing the issue, Museveni acknowledged the public concern but defended the decision to remand Besigye, citing the seriousness of the allegations against him. “I have seen the concern by some Ugandans regarding the remanding of Besigye for the very serious offences he is alleged to have been planning. If you want a stable country, the more correct question should be: ‘Naye Besigye bamukwatila ki? Why was Besigye arrested?’ The answer to that is a quick trial so that facts come out. Otherwise, you are promoting insecurity, which is very dangerous for the country. Nobody in the world can easily give us lectures on reconciliation and forgiveness because that is part of our doctrine right from the 1960s,” part of Museveni’s statement read.

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The sight of Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and leading opposition figure, visibly frail and struggling to breathe at Buganda Road court in Kampala on Friday, is a damning indictment of Uganda’s justice system.

Besigye’s weakened state, reportedly due to a hunger strike protesting his unlawful detention, has sparked outrage and raised urgent questions about the government’s commitment to the rule of law. Despite a Supreme Court order for his release, Besigye remains behind bars, flagrantly violating both Ugandan law and international human rights standards. This is not just a political issue—it is a moral crisis exposing the erosion of democracy under President Yoweri Museveni’s regime.

Uganda’s judiciary has been systematically undermined by executive interference. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts—a landmark decision for justice. President Museveni responded that the country was not being ruled by Judges but guerrillas-he led through a civil from 1980 until he seized government in 1986.

Besigye’s continued detention on military charges makes a mockery of the Supreme Court ruling. By defying the court, the government violates Article 28 of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial, and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits arbitrary detention. Uganda’s actions betray its legal and international obligations.

The government’s claim that Besigye is in “good health” and not on a hunger strike is a blatant attempt to mislead the public. Eyewitness accounts from his associates paint a starkly different picture, describing him as weak and struggling to breathe. This contradiction raises serious concerns about the transparency of Uganda’s prison system. If the authorities have nothing to hide, why deny independent medical assessments? The refusal suggests a deliberate effort to conceal the truth and suppress dissent.

Besigye’s detention is a chilling reminder of the shrinking space for political opposition in Uganda. By targeting him, the government sends a clear message: challenge the status quo, and face harsh reprisals. This strategy is not only undemocratic but also dangerously shortsighted.

The international community must join Ugandans to act. Uganda’s actions violate both domestic and international law. The African Union and the United Nations must hold Uganda accountable for its disregard of judicial independence and political freedoms. Besigye’s imprisonment is not just an attack on one man—it is an assault on democracy and justice. Allowing such impunity sets a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes globally.

On January 9, former National unity Platform Kawempe North Member of Parliament Mohammed Ssegirinya died. The public blamed a judge Lawrence Tweyanze for being used by the state to deny Ssegirinya bail to seek specialised medical care. Dr. Kizza Besigye’s lawyer Erias Lukwago has called for the release Besigye to enable him get medical attention to no heed. The chief of the Uganda Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba insists Kiiza Besigye will leave Luzira Prison in coffin- scenario that could cause chaos if it did happen. Release Dr Besigye to deter chaos and honor the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The writer is a journalist and human rights activist

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