By Reports of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s hunger strike have been circulating since Tuesday after his wife, Winnie Byanyima, announced on social media platform X that her husband, currently incarcerated in Luzira Prison, had begun the protest.
Ms. Byanyima stated that Dr. Besigye was protesting against his continued illegal detention, emphasizing that his plight represents a broader attack on Ugandans who seek justice.
“Kizza Besigye is on hunger strike, detained illegally by a regime that fears his defiance more than it respects the law. This is not just an attack on him—it is an attack on every Ugandan who dares to demand justice. They think they can break his spirit, but they underestimate his resolve,” she posted.
Speaking to international media, Ms. Byanyima reiterated that Dr. Besigye has always opposed injustice in any form and is now resorting to his last means of protest.
“Being who he is, he doesn’t just sit there and accept injustice. If he can’t walk and protest, the only tool he has left is his body,” she stated.
His lawyer, Mr. Erias Lukwago, confirmed the hunger strike after visiting him on Wednesday.
“After the Supreme Court judgment on January 31, he was disgusted by the ongoing impunity and lost his appetite. He is not interested in their food,” Mr. Lukwago said in a phone interview on Thursday.
Mr. Lukwago expressed concerns about Dr. Besigye’s health and called for his immediate release, noting that his remand warrant from the court martial had expired. However, this publication could not independently verify whether Dr. Besigye is indeed on a hunger strike.
When contacted, Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine stated that authorities were unaware of any such protest, asserting that Dr. Besigye had been eating his meals.
“I don’t know about any hunger strike. He has been eating, unless he started today [Thursday]. I haven’t heard from him today, but he has not been on hunger strike,” Mr. Baine said.
Health experts have weighed in on the potential risks associated with hunger strikes. Mr. Bernard Bwambale, a nutritionist and head of programs at the Global Consumer Centre (CONSENT), explained that an individual can typically survive for three weeks without food if they consume fluids, three days without both food and water, and only three minutes without oxygen.
“Some individuals can survive for up to two months without food, depending on their metabolism, fat stores, and mental state,” he said.
Mr. Bwambale added that survival depends on several factors, including metabolism, fat reserves, physiological needs, and age.
“If someone refuses all food, water, and fluids, they will die sooner due to dehydration. Without sufficient water, blood volume decreases, leading to organ failure and rapid death,” he noted.
Dr. Besigye, alongside Mr. Obeid Lutale, has been on remand at Luzira Maximum Security Prison since October last year. The two were arrested in Kenya and are facing charges related to security, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and treachery before the Court Martial.
However, on January 31, the Supreme Court ruled that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional, citing a lack of independence and fairness. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo directed that all ongoing or pending cases involving civilians in the Court Martial be transferred to civilian courts with jurisdiction.
Despite this ruling, the government has yet to implement the directive, and lawyers representing Dr. Besigye and Mr. Lutale have since demanded their release, arguing that their remand warrants have expired.
Dr. Kizza Besigye was formerly the personal physician of Uganda’s longtime president, Yoweri Museveni, before becoming one of the country’s most prominent opposition leaders. He has contested and lost four presidential elections against Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
A veteran opposition figure, Dr. Besigye has frequently accused Ugandan authorities of political persecution. In recent years, he has been less active in politics and did not participate in the 2021 presidential election.
