Winnie Byanyima, wife of prominent Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, doubts her husband will receive a fair trial.
Besigye was recently detained in Kenya, brought back to Uganda, and charged in a military court with alleged possession of weapons and other offenses.
Byanyima, who also leads the U.N. agency UNAIDS, described Besigye’s detention as an abduction. She stated he was seized on November 16 while preparing to attend a book launch in Nairobi. Both Amnesty International and a senior official at Kenya’s foreign ministry have echoed her concerns, labeling the incident as an abduction.
Ugandan government spokesperson Chris Baryomunsi refuted the abduction claims, asserting that arrests abroad are conducted in collaboration with host nations. However, he did not address the specifics of Besigye’s case.
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Byanyima remains skeptical of the military court’s impartiality. "We do not expect justice in a military court," she said in an interview in Kampala. She hoped for a fairer process in a civilian court and urged President Yoweri Museveni to reconsider using criminal charges to suppress political opposition.
Besigye’s political rivalry with Museveni dates back decades. Once a close ally and Museveni’s physician during the 1980s liberation war, the two became adversaries. Besigye has since challenged Museveni in four presidential elections, each time alleging electoral fraud.
Ugandan opposition activists frequently accuse the government of using military courts to silence dissent, a claim that the government denies. Military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye defended the court, asserting that it operates within the law and delivers justice fairly.
Byanyima revealed that during a prison visit, Besigye said he overheard his captors speaking a Ugandan language, leading him to believe they were Ugandan operatives. She has called on Western nations, including the United States and Britain, to pressure Ugandan authorities for his release. "Such actions by a government—abducting an opposition leader from another country—must be condemned," she stated.
Kenya’s government has denied involvement in Besigye’s detention and announced an investigation into the incident. However, rights groups have criticized Kenya for deporting political figures facing prosecution in their home countries.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of opposition leaders in Uganda and its broader implications for regional cooperation and human rights.
