By In a tribute shared on Facebook on Monday morning, the lord mayor and also the interim president for Peoples Front For Freedom Erias Lukwago claimed that the Commander of the Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba son of President Yoweri Museveni had once vowed to tie Besigye to a tree in Gulu and execute him on Heroes Day. The alleged plan, Lukwago wrote, was never carried out, which he attributed to what he called “the never failing Grace of the Lord.”
“Long Live Rt. Col Dr. Warren Kizza Besigye, S/o Kifeefe,” Lukwago wrote, sharing a grayscale portrait of Besigye beneath the words “Honoring Our Hero – God Bless Our Leader.” Lukwago added, “A true Hero in every sense of the word. Deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome someday.”
The post, widely shared across X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, reignited public conversation around the long and often turbulent political rivalry between President Museveni and Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger and former personal physician to Museveni turned fierce critic of the regime.
This latest statement by Lukwago, who has long aligned himself with Besigye, comes on a day when the state is formally recognizing its own list of honorees in Lyantonde District, where President Museveni is expected to preside over the Heroes Day ceremony. The government will award 50 medals to selected individuals for their contribution to national development and the liberation struggle.
Besigye, who has been arrested and detained numerous times over the years for his activism and defiance campaigns, remains a towering figure in Uganda’s opposition circles. While he has never been formally honored by the state, he commands strong grassroots support and is often viewed by supporters as a symbol of resistance and resilience.
Lukwago’s tribute positions Besigye as a counter-narrative to the official Heroes Day commemorations, offering an alternative view of heroism grounded in political dissent rather than state loyalty.
The post also appeared to cast a spotlight on broader concerns regarding political persecution in Uganda, especially ahead of the 2026 general elections.
