Museveni discusses Besigye’s ongoing incarceration and health

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda spoke out on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, over the ongoing arrest of Kizza Besigye, a member of the opposition.

In an extensive statement, Uganda’s president admitted that many people had expressed worries about the situation of the opposition leader who was selected in Nairobi and sent back to his own country to stand trial in a military court.

In response to internet allegations and pressure from certain opposition leaders in Uganda, Museveni maintained his firm view that Besigye must face judicial proceedings.

Some Ugandans are worried about Besigye’s detention for the extremely heinous crimes he is accused of preparing, and I have witnessed this. “Naye Besigye bamukwatila ki?” is a better question to ask if you desire a stable nation. Why was Besigye taken into custody? To get the truth out, the solution is a speedy trial. Otherwise, you are encouraging instability, which jeopardizes the nation.

A portion of Museveni’s remarks said, “Anyone in the world can easily give us lectures on reconciliation and forgiveness because that is part of our doctrine right from the 1960s.”

No retribution

Citing an earlier incident involving Idi Amin, Museveni maintained that his government would not abandon the accountability concept.

He stated unequivocally that he wanted the opposition figure who was imprisoned to answer to the accusations brought against him, but he had no desire for retribution.

Although we do not want retribution, the threat posed by the murderers must be eliminated. As a result, Museveni said, “a speedy trial is the right solution in the Besigye case.”

The recent Ugandan court decision that prohibited the military court from prosecuting civilian courts was also cited by Museveni as the accusing factor.

The decision hampered the case’s progress, according to Uganda’s president. Nevertheless, he pushed for the case expedition by challenging Besigye through his attorney.

“Who made the trial go more slowly? The cases were transferred to civilian courts when the courts identified some shortcomings in the military courts. As a result, the people involved are pursuing two goals. In order to fill in the holes in the Military Courts, the government and lawmakers should move the files from the Military Courts to the Civilian Courts.

Instead of asking for bail and forgiveness, as if major crimes also deserve holidays, why don’t you demand a speedy trial if you are innocent so that you may show your innocence and expose those who are “persecuting” you? Museveni made a posture.

Besigye’s strike for hunger

It was revealed on Monday, February 17, 2025, that Besigye was on a hunger strike when his health began to deteriorate and he was taken in a prison ambulance to a private medical facility.

In response, Museveni described the hunger strike as a kind of coercion intended to elicit pity. Additionally, he rejected claims that Besigye had been refused medical care, according to which his private physician had been given authorization to treat him.

When it comes to illness, the prison has a government hospital, to start with. Furthermore, he has been seen and even taken to private clinics by Dr. Besigye’s personal physicians. Should any more medical treatment be required, the government would be notified.

But Dr. Besigye was on a hunger strike in this instance. The images in the press show that this is one of the reasons for his fragility. That is unprincipled blackmail, isn’t it? After being charged with major charges, how can you respond by going on a hunger strike to garner support for obtaining bail, etc.? How about requesting a brief trial? For the trial, the military court was prepared. Let’s hold off till the civilian court arrives.