A response to Yusuf Serunkuma on Kizza Besigye

What the report says

The Observer published a response to Yusuf Serunkuma’s open letter to Gen. Salim Saleh about the detention of Dr Kizza Besigye. The piece argues that concerns about justice are valid, but says Serunkuma goes too far by treating attempts at reconciliation as proof of wrongdoing and by directing blame at Saleh personally. It places the discussion in the context of Uganda’s ongoing political tensions and the role of religious leaders in mediation.

The author says dialogue efforts should not be dismissed simply because they do not include all parties at the start. He notes that intermediaries often help build trust before formal negotiations begin, and says faith leaders have historically played such a role in conflicts. The article also separates legal accountability from political reconciliation, saying criminal proceedings should continue through proper courts while talks can still address wider grievances around Besigye’s case.

Besigye, along with Hajji Obeid Lutale, is described as deserving medical care, legal access and fair proceedings. The article rejects the idea that a public apology alone can settle treason charges or determine release, and says any decision must follow lawful procedures. It also cautions against using allegations involving security officials as automatic proof that all investigations are flawed.

More broadly, the writer says Uganda’s political history shows the value of keeping channels open, even amid disagreement. The closing message is that Besigye’s health and freedom are important, but so is finding a negotiated path that avoids turning mediators into targets.