After more than seven days of refusing to eat and surviving only on water in protest against what he termed as illegal detention, Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye has ended his hunger strike, according to his lawyers.
This came shortly after he was officially charged in the High court. Besigye was abducted by the Ugandan army alongside Hajji Obed Lutale from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, over allegations of illegal possession of firearms. He was later arraigned before military courts, despite being a civilian.
Last week, Besigye began his hunger strike to protest his detention without trial, even after the Supreme court ruled against trying civilians in military courts. His health steadily deteriorated during the strike, sparking concern among his family and the public.
However, today Friday, he was unexpectedly presented before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court, where he was charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside Lutale and Capt Denis Oola. In fact, Besigye’s lawyers reported that they only received Besigye’s production letter Besigye at 9:26 am yet he was already in court at 9:00 am.Â
Prosecutors allege that the trio engaged in activities aimed at overthrowing the government. The charges reportedly stem from meetings held in multiple countries, including Switzerland, Greece, Kenya, and Uganda, where they allegedly sought arms and financial support.
Chief Magistrate Esther Nyadoi remanded Besigye, Lutale, and Oola until March 7, 2025, stating that treason is a capital offense that can only be tried in the High court. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lino Anguzu requested the court to adjourn the matter, citing incomplete investigations and the lack of committal papers needed to transfer the case to the High court. The magistrate informed the accused that she lacked jurisdiction beyond reading the charges.
Besigye’s lead lawyer, Erias Lukwago, protested the military’s involvement in guarding the accused in court, arguing that only the police should be responsible for security. He urged the court to order the military’s withdrawal.
Additionally, Lukwago appealed for Besigye to be transferred to a medical facility of his choice, given his deteriorating health. He emphasized that Besigye was willing to cover his treatment costs and that access to proper healthcare is a fundamental right.
Lukwago further informed the court that yesterday Thursday, the Buganda Road Magistrate’s court, presided over by Winnie Nankya Jatiko, had stayed Besigye’s criminal proceedings for 60 days to allow him to receive treatment. However, he was not produced in court as ordered due to his health condition. Today Friday, he appeared in court in a wheelchair.
Assistant DPP Anguzu countered the request for Besigye’s transfer to a private facility, arguing that prison authorities should first be given a chance to provide medical care. He insisted that the court needed proof that Besigye had been denied access to adequate healthcare before making any ruling.
In her ruling, magistrate Nyadoi ordered that Oola be remanded to prison, effectively removing military custody over him. Regarding Besigye’s health concerns, she ruled that his lawyers should take up the matter in the High court, as it was beyond her jurisdiction. She then remanded Besigye to prison until March 7, 2025. Notably, five Catholic priests attended Besigye’s court proceedings a rare occurrence in such cases.
Back in the day , Bishop Luwum and others were announced dead a short time after they had been paraded live on UTV at Nile Hotel ( now Serena) According to the government spokesman of the day ( today`s Andrew Mwenda , Baryomunsi, Mao and others) Luwum and others died a car accident when they tried to over-power their driver in an ettempt to escape. Self-inflicted death , they concluded .
These days , “self-inflicted” is repeatedly used by the dictatorship`s agents , most probably to prepare the public just in case Besigye dies in jail or later as it happened with Ssegirinya and others.
Chris Baryomunsi , that heartless son of so and so , was on TV sharing his medical wisdom about what happens to the body if you refuse to eat ( as though we do not know ) ; What Dr.Baryomunsi will not tell is that when a being`s mental psyche is subjected to perpertual abuse or torture , it can lead that being into neurotic ( or irrational )behaviour such as hunger strike , suicide etc.
This means that of all people , Dr.Baryomunsi should know very well why Dr.Besigye refused to eat.
Dr.Baryomunsi , a one time victim of this atrcious dictatorship has gladly joined our people`s killers.He is now ready to tell Uganda that Dr.Besigye`s health condition , yesterday, today and tomorrow is caused by his own refusal to eat – self-inflicted.
I am laughing profusely at those Africans who lack capacity to learn from the brutal lessons history teaches individuals who fail to learn from it !!!!!!!
Let me enjoy my laughter at black African lumpens as history stands talons raked out to teach them and their children what it means to learn from history and to never repeat history.
Yeah . today , Andrew Mwenda was on TV screaming on the top of his lungs that he has evidence that Dr.Besigye wanted to kill Museveni , in “cold blood” . For some reason , Mwenda was more angry than Dr. Besigye`s target. He almost burst a gut proving his case. It all sounded bizarre .
Many Ugandas , including Mwenda himself , may have forgetten that Andrew Mwenda was arrested and dumped in Luzira . He lost a lot hair while there. His crime ? He had evidence that Museveni had killed Garang . Up to today , Mwenda has never proved his bombastic evidence . Garang remain dead.
On the same panel , was Dr. Baryomunsi .
Again , this is another one who was picked up and thrown into one of Museveni`s safe houses. His crime ? Baryomunsi knew who was killed Nebanda . Its been a while since then. We are yet to get a lecture from this medical doctor what he and others found in Nebanda`s dead body, what made him think and say that Nebanda was a victim of some wicked underground activity by the state . Whether they like or not , Mwenda and Baryomunsi will forever appear on the same record of history like Dr. Besigye (and hudreds of others) that were former inmates.
It must now be said that these two talkative chaps from hell never learnt anything from their personal history .
It is said that Baryomunsi is supposed to be one of the most highly educated members of Anita Among`s parliament. But at this point , Bad Black looks like the genius compared to some of these so called Phd fellows.
Mawa, at all cost including promotions, our 80-year-old “Problem of Africa”, Gen Tibuhaburwa will always make sure he dehumanizes and humiliated all his former critics by making them his stooges: to loudly defend all his (Tibhuhaburwa) wrongdoing and/or criminality .
In other words, after listening to Andrew Mwenda’s outburst and rant, and Dr. Baryomunsi idiocy (last Thursday NBS Tv Talks show), who in his/her right state of mind, can still deny that these fellows have dehumanized themselves into irreversible Tibuhaburwa’s stooges?
You wait and listen Hon Akol when he finally crosses to NRM; the Mwenda and Bayromunsi of this country’s idiocy will pale into insignificance.
Mr. Bemanyire , only those with catastrophic foolishness don’t learn from history! And there are many such in Africa’s leadership who are senile and half dead due to age, but clinging to power and ranting “neocolonialism” and “Pan- Africanism” rubbish….
Mwenda ranted and looked like a rabid dog. I thought he was going to jump at Hon Ssemujju sp? Where is the evidence he ranting about? The likes of Mwenda and Baryomunsi as future leaders of the country with their MK expect hell
What is so special about Baryomunsi that makes him so arrogant?000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Well well such a medical politician one believes, knows very well what sort of treatment his body needs to recover from the starvation he has suffered. Trouble with some of these state power greedy African politicians believe that they have several lives to live other than only one. President M7 has sent his message very clear through his very ambitious son, that Dr Besigye as their former great family friend should end his life in any way possible.
What exactly are you saying ?!?
But what shocked me in the current inhumanity to Dr. Kiiza Besigye and others is that: on Bishop Luwum and others Martyrdom Day (16th Feb 2025), it was bewildering and behooving to hear non other than Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu praying for, or was it, asking for our 80-year-old “Problem of Africa”, Gen Tibuhaburwa to forgive Dr. Besigye in his misery. Really?
Who is to forgive who? Does the good Archbishop Kazimba, know what the good-old 9th Commandment say: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16)?
From Obote (RIP) to now Dr. Besigye, who in his/her state of mind can still deny that; Mr. M7 slandered and been speaking unjustly against his neighbor, Dr. Besigye to prejudice his reputation, such as the alleged rape of Joanitah Kyakwa?
It is therefore unfortunate that the good Archbishop Kazimba, is asking the offender, Mr. M7 to forgive Dr. Besigye his victim of slander. Good God, where are you?
In other words, unlike his predecessor Bishop Luwum (RIP) who in broad-day-light and without fear or favor told off Idi Amin about human rights violation; Arch Bishop Kazimba was begging the tormentor Dr. Besigye and others to forgive them (his victims of gross human rights violation). Really!
Who bewitched and cursed our religious leaders into taking the back seat and/or sitting on their mouths in times of human suffering?