Jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has expressed fears of being poisoned while in prison, leading him to refuse food provided by the facility and go on a hunger strike after being denied access to meals from home, Members of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee have reported.
While presenting the minority report during Tuesday’s plenary sitting, Erute South MP Jonathan Odur confirmed that Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential runner-up, is in solitary confinement, barred from interacting with other inmates, and not allowed to attend prayers.
The Committee, which visited Luzira Prison last Friday, learned that Dr. Besigye believes his life is in danger. “His biggest concern is that the State, being both the complainant and prosecutor, has command and control over the Prisons,” the report noted. The Commissioner General of Prisons acknowledged awareness of Dr. Besigye’s fears, recognizing the precarious nature of his detention.
Dr. Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, are on remand facing trial for insecurity and treachery offenses in the Army General Court Martial following their arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in November last year.
Solitary Confinement and Safety Concerns
Despite his isolation, Dr. Besigye acknowledged some improvements in prison conditions. “He commended the professionalism of the prison authorities and their efforts to uphold inmates’ rights,” Committee Chairman Fox Odoi stated in the main report. He added that Dr. Besigye receives daily visits from prison doctors and can see his personal doctor when necessary. Additionally, he has access to adequate food through three authorized suppliers.
However, Dr. Besigye described his cell as a “prison within a prison,” requiring passage through five doors to reach him. The Committee also noted his concern over unexplained late-night activities near his cell, including the repeated opening and closing of padlocks without entry, which has heightened his fears.
A minority report co-authored by Odur, Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), and Flavia Nabagabe (Kassanda DWR) urged Parliament to take Dr. Besigye’s concerns seriously. Odur reported that Besigye had raised an alarm after hearing suspicious movements near his cell, only to receive conflicting explanations from prison authorities.
The Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija, defended the decision to place Dr. Besigye in solitary confinement, arguing that his ability to incite other prisoners posed a security risk. However, the Uganda Human Rights Commission cautioned that excessive use of solitary confinement could violate human rights and negatively impact mental health.
The Committee also reported that Luzira Prison houses an inmate who has been on remand for 26 years without trial, alongside others who have been detained for over a decade with their cases unresolved. In response, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa directed the Government to present a statement by Tuesday on the next steps regarding long-term remand prisoners.
The original article is available on Parliament Watch: https://parliamentwatch.ug/news-amp-updates/besigye-warns-of-threats-to-his-life/