Kyagulanyi Condemns Besigye’s Incarceration, Calls for National Resistance Against Oppression
“The present trials and tribulations of Dr. Kizza Besigye must not be seen as an attack on him alone but an attack on all of us,” Kyagulanyi asserted. “He is being detained illegally. He is being persecuted. He is sick. He needs urgent medical attention. He has served this country and fought for all of us.”
Uganda Today Edition: Kyagulanyi Condemns Besigye’s Incarceration, Calls for National Resistance Against Oppression
Kampala, Uganda – Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu,president of the largest opposition political party, national Unity Platform (NUP) and popularly known as Bobi Wine, has strongly condemned the continued detention of veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, calling it an unjust political persecution that signals a broader assault on all Ugandans who stand for democracy.
“An Attack on All of Us”
In a passionate statement, Kyagulanyi described Dr. Besigye’s imprisonment as not only illegal but also a dire humanitarian crisis that should not be politicized or trivialized.
“The present trials and tribulations of Dr. Kizza Besigye must not be seen as an attack on him alone but an attack on all of us,” Kyagulanyi asserted. “He is being detained illegally. He is being persecuted. He is sick. He needs urgent medical attention. He has served this country and fought for all of us.”
Warning Against State-Sanctioned Violence
Kyagulanyi criticized what he termed as a growing culture of state-sanctioned violence, warning that silence in the face of oppression would embolden the regime to escalate its brutality against political dissenters. He particularly accused President Museveni and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, of systematically eliminating opposition voices, stating that the ongoing persecution of Besigye is a precursor to more deadly repression.
“Dictators world over and throughout history believe in testing the ground. They kill one today, another tomorrow and another the following day. When they realize that they can get away with anything, they descend on the entire population and massacre those who oppose their criminal regimes,” Kyagulanyi warned.
Accusations Against Muhoozi Kainerugaba
Kyagulanyi’s statement follows recent remarks by Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has openly dismissed calls for Besigye’s release despite a Supreme Court ruling that called for the freedom of opposition leaders facing military court martial trials. According to Kyagulanyi, these statements reflect a clear intent by the regime to weaponize the judiciary and security forces against political opponents, in violation of constitutional rights.
“No wonder Museveni’s son is saying that after killing Dr. Besigye, he will come for me and all of us,” Kyagulanyi declared. “These are not empty threats—that is how the Holocaust began. That is how genocides begin.”
Calls for Mass Action and International Pressure
The National Unity Platform (NUP) leader has called upon Ugandans, civil society organizations, and the international community to increase pressure on the regime for Besigye’s immediate release, emphasizing that failure to act now would lead to further repression.
“I salute all those who are protesting, sending out messages, and doing everything possible to ramp up the pressure,” Kyagulanyi said. “Let everyone do everything within their power to call for the immediate release of Dr. Besigye and other prisoners of conscience.”
Growing Public Outrage
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in different parts of Uganda, particularly in Ntungamo, where Besigye hails from, with demonstrators demanding his release and condemning the government’s actions. The mounting public anger underscores a growing resistance against what many see as a politically motivated attack on opposition leaders.
The hashtags #FreeKizzaBesigye, #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersinUganda, and #FreeUganda have been trending on social media, as pressure mounts on the government to respect human rights and the rule of law.
Government Silence as Tensions Rise
The government is yet to issue a formal response to Kyagulanyi’s statement, but tensions remain high as opposition figures rally for Besigye’s release. As the crisis unfolds, many political observers warn that the situation could escalate if urgent action is not taken to address what has become an intensifying struggle for democracy in Uganda.
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