President Yoweri Museveni took to social media to address concerns regarding the detention of opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye who has been on a hunger strike while awaiting trial.
The President questioned the legitimacy of Besigye’s protest arguing that instead of seeking bail through public sympathy, he should demand a quick trial to prove his innocence.
Museveni also blamed delays in the judicial process on the courts stating that they had pointed out gaps in the military court system leading to the transfer of Besigye’s case to civilian courts.
In a strongly worded statement, President Museveni dismissed Besigye’s hunger strike as a strategic ploy rather than a genuine health concern.
“How can you be accused of serious crimes and, then, your response is a hunger strike to generate sympathy for getting bail?” Museveni asked, questioning why the opposition leader had not instead pushed for a fast-tracked trial.
He insisted that the military court was prepared to proceed but was halted by judicial rulings requiring the matter to be handled by civilian courts.
Museveni also asserted that Besigye was receiving adequate medical care, stating that there is a government hospital in prison and that the opposition leader’s personal doctors had been allowed to visit him and take him to private clinics.
The President challenged critics to focus on why Besigye was arrested in the first place rather than demanding his release.
“If you want a stable country, the more correct question should be ‘Naye Dr. Besigye bamukwatila ki?’ (Why was Dr. Besigye arrested?)” he said.
This comment has further fueled the controversy surrounding Besigye’s detention, with opposition figures insisting that his arrest was politically motivated.
His supporters argue that the government is using legal loopholes to prolong his detention.
Museveni emphasized that the government is working on two fronts, transferring Besigye’s case to civilian courts and addressing the gaps in military courts that were flagged by judges.
He criticized what he described as a growing culture where accused individuals demand bail and forgiveness instead of proving their innocence in court.
“If you are innocent, why do you not demand a quick trial so that you can prove your innocence and expose those who are ‘persecuting’ you?” Museveni questioned.
His remarks suggest a broader effort by the government to tighten military court proceedings and close legal gaps that opposition figures have used to challenge their trials.
Museveni’s statement has sparked mixed reactions. Some Ugandans support his call for a speedy trial arguing that if Besigye is innocent, he should let the courts clear him rather than staging a hunger strike.
Others however, see the President’s comments as dismissive of legitimate concerns about political persecution and human rights violations.
Opposition leaders including National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, have condemned what they call “state-sponsored injustice”, pointing out that Besigye’s hunger strike is a desperate response to a flawed judicial system.
