Joseph Isangura
Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding the detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, saying that the real question shouldn’t be why Dr. Besigye was remanded, but rather why he was arrested in the first place.
“If we’re aiming for a stable country, the right question to ask is: Why was Dr. Besigye arrested?” Museveni stated. “The answer to that is a quick trial, so the facts can come out.”
In a statement shared on his social media on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, President Museveni emphasized the importance of accountability, especially when it comes to serious crimes. He made it clear that the government is not about seeking revenge, but added that the threat posed by dangerous individuals must be dealt with. While he acknowledged Uganda’s tradition of promoting reconciliation and forgiveness, he also stressed that this should never come at the expense of holding people accountable for their actions.
On the matter of Dr. Besigye’s health, Museveni pointed out that there’s a government-run hospital within the prison and that Dr. Besigye’s personal doctors have been regularly visiting him. However, he also mentioned that Dr. Besigye’s ongoing hunger strike has contributed to his physical weakness.
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“Isn’t this a form of manipulation?” Museveni asked. “How can you be accused of serious crimes and then your response is to go on a hunger strike, hoping for sympathy and bail? Why not demand a swift trial instead?”
Museveni also addressed the delay in Dr. Besigye’s trial, explaining that it had to be moved from a military court to a civilian one. “Who delayed the trial process? It was the courts that pointed out gaps in the military court system and decided to transfer the cases to civilian courts,” he said.
