RUKINGIRI, Uganda – For the first time, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has opened up about the tribulations facing his former ally-turned-foe, retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Colonel Dr Kizza Besigye.
Besigye served as Museveni’s personal physician during the Ugandan Bush War (1981–1986) and later as a minister in his National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) government.
Kizza Besigye remains in State custody as of late December 2025. Photo, courtesy.
News9.africa understands that Besigye, who has challenged Museveni in four presidential elections (2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016), losing each time amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and state-sponsored violence, broke ranks with the NRM in 1999, publishing a critique of the government’s lack of democracy.
Currently, Besigye, who has also been arrested dozens of times, frequently placed under house arrest, and charged with various offences, including rape (of which he was acquitted) and treason, remains in detention following his abduction in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024. He is facing treason and treachery charges in a civilian court, which carry a potential death penalty.
While reacting to his continued detention without being subjected to a trial, President Museveni pointed an accusing finger at Besigye’s legal team for what he termed ‘derailing the process’.
President Museveni made the remarks through Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who addressed a press conference in Rukungiri Municipality on Thursday night, attended by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, and the Minister for Security, Gen Jim Muhwezi, among other NRM flagbearers in the January 15, 2025, General Election.
“I have been sent by His Excellency, the president, to coordinate with our ministers, flagbearers and our leaders from this region to explain to the people of Rukingiri, Kanungu, Kegeza and the country at large the issue of the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye,” said Tayebwa.
Why Dr. Kizza Besigye remains in custody without facing trial
News9.africa knows that Dr. Besigye is in state custody. He was remanded to Luzira Maximum Prison on February 21, 2025, by the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
“Since then, the state, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, has made it very clear that they are ready to proceed with the case because on May 29, 2025, Dr. Besigye was committed to the High Court for trial, and in February, we had expected that indeed the trial would begin,” added Tayebwa.
“We thought this could be an opportunity for the evidence of the State to be brought out into the daylight and even challenged by the defendants’ side. But what has happened has been frustrating for the courts to proceed with the trial.”
Tayebwa made the remarks amid growing concern from residents of the Kigezi sub-region, particularly Rukungiri District, over the continued detention of Dr. Besigye.
Tomorrow, the High Court becomes the struggle's front line again.
For over a year, the state has tried to break the spirit of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale. They were abducted in Nairobi, held in military dungeons, and now face trumped-up charges of treason.
Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, have been in detention for more than a year following their abduction in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, and their subsequent transfer to Kampala.
Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife reacts to Museveni’s remarks
But according to the deputy Speaker, the government has been ready since then.
Tayebwa further regretted that over 10 different applications, including miscellaneous applications and others, and also referrals to the constitutional court have been made in connection to Besigye’s case.
“All these have frustrated the process of expeditious trial, which we thought would benefit the defendant since it would be in his interest to challenge the evidence that is presented by the State but also for the State to prove its case because the burden of proving the case is on them who are prosecuting the case,” Tayebwa lamented.
However, in a quick rejoinder, Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife, termed her husband’s continued incarceration an injustice against him.
“This is not justice. It is persecution. Every legal rule has been broken in the bogus case against Kizza Besigye. From Kigezi to West Nile, Ugandans know this has nothing to do with the law and everything to do with silencing dissent. End this cynical, vicious political game,” said Byanyima.
How Dr. Kizza Besigye should be treated while in detention
Byanyima, who doubles as the Executive Director of UNAIDS, and also a childhood friend and former combatant alongside Museveni, accused the Ugandan leader of being responsible for the continued detention of her husband.
“Kizza Besigye has applied three times for bail, and it has been denied him, though he is not a flight risk. For years, he has appeared before courts to answer many bogus cases,” added Byanyima.
According to Byanyima, a vocal critic of the Museveni administration’s treatment of her husband, the law is clear on how Besigye should be treated.
“Kizza Besigye is a senior citizen who meets all bail conditions and should be granted bail. His lawyers have asked the court to respect the law. Instead, bail has been denied three times on spurious grounds. Justice Baguma could not even accurately count the days he has been jailed. President Museveni publicly ordered that he be denied bail. This is persecution, not the rule of law,” explained Byanyima.
However, Tabeywa said there have been many lies which the president wanted to clarify to the people of Rukingiri and Kigezi over the detention of Besigye, who hails from the vote-rich region.
“We want to clarify that even if the defence side said they are ready even tomorrow, the State will proceed right away because everything to do with evidence, according to the DPP, is ready. So, we want to clarify to the people of Rukingiri and assure them that Dr. Besigye will be given a fair trial. But this also takes two to tango. It takes him, also with his defence team supporting the process of a speedy and fair trial, which would not be interrupted by the ongoing procedures and court processes,” said Tayebwa.
What is the way forward for Dr. Kizza Besigye’s legal team
Tayebwa, a lawyer by profession, reiterated that as a government, they hope that the defence side will cooperate with the court and cooperate with the prosecution so that the evidence obtained by the State can be made available to the defence side for their scrutiny.
“Then the witnesses of the State are also brought to the dock to explain and justify their testimonies and evidence, and you never know, Besigye might be free after that, or he might be convicted based on how the court will decide,” said Tayebwa.
Tayebwa added that presidential intervention is only possible after conviction, should the accused seek a pardon.
“For those who have been saying that the president should release Besigye, the president has no power to do that under the law. The DPP is independent and shall not take instructions from anyone. The evidence that was produced before him – he assessed it and felt that there was a case against the State. Now, it is his case; it is not President Museveni’s case; it is not a case of these flagbearers, all the ministers or whoever; it is the case of the State, which is represented by the DPP,” Tayebwa further explained.
news9.africa established that following his detention, President Museveni publicly stated that Besigye would only be released after a full trial, dismissing calls for executive interference as “unprincipled blackmail”.
Museveni sent Thomas Tayebwa to explain the continued illegal incarceration of Dr Besigye to the people of Kigezi. These people are really shameless. pic.twitter.com/hgEOt9BSVi
And according to Tayebwa, the president can only intervene if Besigye is convicted and wants to be pardoned under the president’s prerogative of mercy, in which case the procedure provided would also be followed.
“So, we want to urge the people of Rukingiri and Kigezi and Uganda to remain calm, to know that the law is taking its course, but also to note that the government, the State, has done its part. Now, the ball is in the court of the defence to do their part so that the prosecution process and retrial can start,” the deputy Speaker stated.
Dennis Lubanga is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years experience. He has a rich and extensive focus on politics, climate change, environment, and food security. He has previously held positions at Y News Digial (Editorial Lead), TUKO.co.ke (Current Affairs Editor) and Nation Media Group (News Correspondent). He is affiliated with respected journalism programs such as The Nature Conservancy African Journalism Programme, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and African Uncensored Investigative Journalism Programme. His work has been honored in the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) among other platforms.
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