By Incarcerated opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye declined to make any remarks during a visit by Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) officials at Luzira Upper Prison on Monday, February 17, 2025.
The delegation, led by UHRC Director Ms. Ruth Sekindi and senior staff member Priscilla Nyarugoye, was granted access to Dr. Besigye’s remand room as part of an official monitoring visit. However, UHRC Chairperson Justice Mariam Wangadya later revealed that while Besigye appeared physically weak, he chose not to engage in any discussion with the officials.
“When they requested to pray with him, he agreed, and my team tells me that he was grateful, but he did not want to talk to them any further,” Justice Wangadya told The Monitor in an interview on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. She further emphasized concerns over his deteriorating condition, stating, “From the report they gave, he was weak physically, and we believe that the processes to actualize the Supreme Court judgment should be expedited.”
The UHRC visit came shortly after opposition politicians, including National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, were denied access to Besigye earlier that same day.
Dr. Besigye’s health remains a major concern, following his hospitalization at a medical facility in Bugolobi, Kampala, on Sunday evening, February 16, 2025. After receiving medical attention, he was returned to detention. His hunger strike, which has persisted for several days, has drawn appeals from human rights bodies urging him to reconsider.
“My team requested him to end the hunger strike for the sake of his health, but he did not comment on that,” Justice Wangadya stated. She encouraged Dr. Besigye to remain hopeful, noting that his lawyers have petitioned the courts to declare his detention illegal and secure his release—an effort she described as a positive step forward.
This marks the third time UHRC officials have visited Dr. Besigye since his remand by the General Court Martial. His ongoing detention and declining health continue to raise concerns among opposition groups, human rights organizations, and the broader Ugandan public.
