Byanyima presses gov’t to free Besigye for medical treatment in Geneva

What the report says

Winnie Byanyima has called on Uganda’s government to release her husband, opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, on bail so he can receive specialised medical care in Geneva, Switzerland. She made the appeal while speaking to journalists at their home in Kasangati, Wakiso district, after recently visiting him at Luzira Prison. Byanyima said Besigye is very weak and, in her view, needs treatment that cannot be obtained in Uganda.

According to The Observer, Besigye has been in prison since November 2024 on charges of treason and misprision of treason. He reportedly collapsed at the High Court in Kampala about two weeks ago after protesting what he described as unconstitutional conduct by the judge. He was taken back to Luzira, then transferred to the UPDF General Court Martial hospital in Mbuya and later referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital before returning to prison for continued treatment.

Byanyima argued that her request is about enforcing his rights rather than giving him special treatment. She said prison authorities have allowed relatives to help him because he cannot easily feed himself or manage basic personal tasks. She also described the presence of soldiers around him in prison as troubling. Her comments added to wider criticism of how Besigye and others linked to his defence are being handled.

In the same remarks, Byanyima urged the release of former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who was arrested on June 13 and charged with misprision of treason. She also challenged Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi’s recent assessment of Besigye’s condition, saying it did not match what she had seen.