Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine and the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was denied access to see Dr. Kizza Besigye during a visit to Luzira Prison. Bobi Wine, accompanied by NUP leaders such as Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition, and David Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP Secretary General, intended to check on Besigye, who has been on a hunger strike to protest his detention.
Besigye, a veteran opposition figure and four-time presidential candidate, has been in custody since November 2024, facing charges in a military court, despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring such trials for civilians unconstitutional.
Prison authorities informed the delegation that Besigye was too weak to leave his bed, preventing them from meeting him directly.
However, they were able to meet other political prisoners, including Hajji Obeid Lutale, who is detained alongside Besigye on similar charges.
Through Lutale, Besigye conveyed a message urging the opposition to continue fighting not only for his release but for the freedom of all political prisoners in Uganda, particularly those held under what they consider illegal military court detentions.
Bobi Wine expressed concern over Besigye’s deteriorating health, noting that his hunger strike, which began on February 12, has left him frail and in critical condition.
Besigye was reportedly rushed to a private medical facility at Bugolobi Village Mall under heavy security on the previous day, Sunday, highlighting the severity of his health crisis.
Despite being returned to Luzira Prison, his condition remains a focal point of outrage among opposition supporters, who accuse the government of political persecution and deliberate neglect.
The denial of access to Bobi Wine and his team has fueled public anger, with many viewing it as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent.
The incident has also drawn attention to the ongoing legal and political standoff, as Besigye’s detention persists despite judicial rulings in his favor, raising questions about the rule of law and the treatment of political detainees in Uganda.