Besigye to remain behind bars as Ugandan court defers case

Ailing Ugandan opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, his aide Obeid Lutale and one of their lawyers will remain in detention until later this month when the High Court in Kampala will make its decision in a habeas corpus case filed by their lawyers.

After hearing submissions, High Court judge Douglas Karekona Singiza said on Wednesday that his decision would be delivered no later than February 25, 2025.

“Prison authorities should take back Col Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale and remain with the lawyers and proceed with the habeas corpus application,” Dr Singiza said during proceedings ignoring pleas by Dr Besigye’s lawyers to issue an interim order for the release of the four-time presidential contender to seek better health care outside Luzira prison where he has been detained since November last year.

The judge said he was happy that at least the body of Dr Besigye had been presented in court and now what remains are questions about his unlawful detention following government’s delay to implement a January 31 Supreme Court ruling which stopped the General Court martial from trying civilians on grounds that it was unconstitutional before ordering files to be immediately transferred to the ordinary courts with competent jurisdiction.

Dr Besigye was seeking to be released from incarceration, coming hours after the Uganda Law Society (ULS) wrote a protest note on Monday, decrying the delayed hearing of the application by Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza.

But hours after the court's decision, Dr Besigye's wife Winnie Byanyima and National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, described his continued detention and the judge’s orders as political persecution.

"The cadre judge and the regime are persecuting Dr Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners in the name of prosecution. My only call to Ugandans here and abroad is to continue exerting pressure. We're not going to stop. We gave the regime 48 hours to release Dr Besigye because we want him alive. They are trying to kill him," Wine said.

On her part, Byanyima said she was disappointed that the court could not free her husband to seek better medical care.

"I came here expecting to take him home today. I'm devastated but I'm not surprised. Besigye is a captive. He was kidnapped and he's in captivity as we all are. Museveni has put all of us in captivity. Shame on this cadre judge for sending my husband back to jail when his health is deteriorating fast," she said.

Recently, Dr Besigye’s health has deteriorated, reportedly due to a prolonged hunger strike. On Sunday, he was taken to a private clinic in Bugolobi for medical tests. He was later taken back to jail.

Report by Anthony Wesaka