Winnie Byanyima Breaks Silence On Why DR. Besigye Is In Prison

Winnie Byanyima, the wife of jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has broken her silence with a searing and emotional account of what she says lies behind her husband’s continued detention, accusing President Yoweri Museveni’s government of using state power to silence a key political opponent.

In a hard-hitting address, Byanyima described Dr. Besigye’s imprisonment not as a legal matter but as a calculated political move aimed at crushing dissent at a time she says Uganda is approaching a dangerous crossroads.

According to Byanyima, her husband is being targeted because of his long-standing opposition to what she described as a plan to perpetuate Museveni’s rule through his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. She argued that Dr. Besigye’s vocal resistance to this alleged succession project has made him a threat to those in power.

“This is not about the law,” Byanyima said, asserting that the state is deploying the military, the police, and the justice system as political tools.

She accused the government of abandoning democratic principles in favour of repression, warning that institutions meant to protect citizens are instead being used to intimidate and punish critics.

Byanyima painted a grim picture of the country’s current political climate, saying Uganda is entering a critical and frightening period. She pointed to what she described as a rise in abductions, torture, enforced disappearances, and the criminalisation of opposition leaders and activists.

Her remarks echo growing concerns raised by rights groups and opposition figures about shrinking civic space and the increasing use of security agencies against government critics.

Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and one of Museveni’s most persistent challengers, has repeatedly been arrested and charged over the years, often in connection with protests or alleged security offences.

Byanyima warned that her husband’s case should not be viewed in isolation, arguing that it represents a broader pattern of repression that could affect any Ugandan who dares to speak out.“What is happening to Kizza can happen to anyone,” she cautioned, urging citizens not to be silent in the face of fear.

The government has previously defended arrests of opposition figures, insisting that security agencies act within the law and that no one is above it. However, critics argue that the selective application of justice undermines public trust in the courts and deepens political divisions.

As Dr. Besigye remains in custody, Byanyima’s statement adds a powerful personal voice to the political debate, framing his imprisonment as both a family tragedy and a national warning.

Whether her message galvanises wider public pressure remains to be seen, but it has once again thrust Uganda’s human rights record and political future into sharp focus.