“That’s A Big Lie” Uganda Prison Breaks Silence After Reports That Besigye Is So Sick That He Can’t Speak Or Stand

Reports that jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye’s health has seriously deteriorated are false, according to the Uganda Prisons Service. Over the weekend, social media was flooded with claims that the 69-year-old former presidential candidate was too weak to support himself, sparking concern among his supporters.

Some supporters warned that his alleged poor health could trigger political unrest. “If Dr Besigye dies in prison (God forbid), it will mark the beginning of the real revolution,” wrote one social media user, Gideon Kwikiriza.

However, the Prison Service, through spokesperson Senior Commissioner Frank Baine Mayanja, dismissed the reports as misinformation spread by Besigye’s lawyers. “Besigye has no problem as far as I am concerned; it’s the same story since last November that he is sick, but he’s fine,” Baine told Pulse Uganda.

Baine emphasized that the claims about Besigye’s condition originated from his lawyers and not the prison authorities. “They say he is sick, that he is going to die in prison… if he were to die, he would be long dead,” he added.

Concerns about Besigye’s health were recently raised by his legal team, led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. They said the former presidential candidate was in a critical state and unable to move after missing a High Court Criminal Division session, where he and co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale were to take pleas on charges of treason and misprision of treason. The hearing was adjourned to October 1.

“It is sad Besigye is not here,” Lukwago said. “When we went to visit him, he was in a room and couldn’t leave. He is not well. Hajji Obeid Lutale told us he is experiencing dizziness, and by evening yesterday, no one could see him. Let us pray that he gets better.”

The Prison Service also rejected claims that Besigye’s visitation rights were being restricted. “The claim that his visitation has been restricted is also a lie because even last Friday, he was visited,” Baine said, assuring the public that Besigye is receiving normal care while in custody.