Luzira, Uganda – The usually quiet corridors of Luzira Prison were shaken today as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi, led a high-profile delegation of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to inspect prison conditions particularly those affecting high-profile detainees like Dr. Kizza Besigye who is currently facing treason charges.
In a bold press briefing at the prison gates, Ssenyonyi revealed disturbing findings about how suspects are being treated “as if they are already convicts,” despite the fact that they have not yet been found guilty in a court of law.
The visit has ignited national concern and renewed debate over prisoners’ rights, judicial fairness and the role of prisons in a democratic society.
“We found inmates who are denied full medical attention, others being harshly restricted and all this while they still await trial. What happened to presumption of innocence?” Ssenyonyi questioned.
The group’s unannounced inspection comes after the Supreme Court ruled that civilians facing charges in military courts must be transferred to civilian courts, a decision seen as a major win for human rights activists.
Among the detainees Ssenyonyi and his team interacted with is Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and icon of Uganda’s opposition movement.
Besigye, who just marked his 69th birthday behind bars has been on remand for nearly 160 days alongside his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale.
The MPs say that Besigye, though mentally strong and politically resolute has faced dehumanizing treatment, limited access to legal counsel and unnecessary delays in his legal process.
Ssenyonyi’s delegation insists the treatment of inmates like Besigye is not only unjust but potentially unconstitutional, adding that they will demand answers from both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Prisons Service.
“If they can treat someone like Besigye this way, someone with international recognition and public support what about the ordinary Ugandan who has no voice?” asked MP Betty Nambooze who accompanied the team.
The MPs also plan to extend their oversight mission to Kitalya Prison and other detention centers to ensure compliance with the recent Supreme Court ruling which deemed it illegal to try civilians in the military court system.
In the meantime, Ssenyonyi is calling for immediate reviews of all pending civilian cases stuck in the judicial pipeline especially those that originated from the General Court Martial.
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