By Aggrey Baba
During a recent visit by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, it was revealed that Besigye, fearing for his life, has been cooking his own meals to avoid potential poisoning. Besigye is also being held in solitary confinement, isolated from other inmates and restricted from attending prayers, further adding to his worries.
However, the most worrying account shared by Besigye during the visit, according to the human rights committee report, was an incident that occurred late one night, a story that has raised more questions than answers.
According to the Minority report presented by to parliament on tuesiday, January 28, Besigye described how, after midnight, two of the four doors to his cell were suddenly opened without warning.
Startled and fearful for his safety, Besigye reportedly shouted loudly, prompting the alleged attackers to quickly retreat. When he questioned them about the incident, he was given conflicting explanations, where one guard claimed it was due to forgotten items, another suggested the doors had been unlocked by mistake, and a third explained it was part of a routine inspection.
The inconsistency in the explanations only deepened Besigye’s concern, leaving him wondering whether there was a more sinister motive behind the event, and this stamps his belief that the incident may have been an attempt to harm or intimidate him.
Fox Odoi, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, who led the visit to Luzira, shared these findings in his report to Parliament. He confirmed that Besigye’s solitary confinement and limited access to other prisoners and religious services have only added to his growing fears of being targeted.
MPs Odur, Zaake, and Nabagabe, who were part of the visit, were particularly critical of the dismissive response to Besigye’s concerns.
In their Minority report, they emphasized that Parliament should take the PFF leader’s safety seriously, urging for more transparency and accountability in his treatment while in custody. [We must ensure that Dr. Besigye’s rights are respected and that he is not subjected to any harm while in custody].
Prison Commissioner Defends Solitary Confinement of Dr. Kizza Besigye Amid Alarming Fears of State-Sponsored Harm
In a chilling revelation, the Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija, defended the controversial solitary confinement of Dr. Kizza Besigye, claiming the high-profile opposition leader’s isolation was crucial for both his safety and to prevent his influence from inciting unrest among other prisoners. Besigye, who is currently being held at Luzira Prison, has expressed deep fears for his life, particularly over the possibility of being poisoned, and has raised concerns about the state’s role in his potential harm.
Byabashaija’s comments were made during a recent visit by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, and were presented to Parliament by Jonathan Odur, MP for Erute South, as part of the Minority report on Tuesday, January 28, 2024. According to Odur, the Commissioner General confirmed that Besigye’s fears were well known to prison authorities, but emphasized the complicated position that officials found themselves in, given the fears of the opposition leader.
“The isolation of Dr. Besigye is primarily for his safety,” Byabashaija told the Committee. “However, we also believe he has the capacity to excite other inmates, which could spiral out of control and lead to an unstable situation.”
Odur went on to reveal that Besigye had told the Committee he feared being killed through poisoning, expressing particular concern that the state, as both the prosecutor and the authority in charge of his detention, could be behind any such plot. The Commissioner General’s acknowledgment of these concerns further underlined the tense and precarious situation facing Besigye in prison.
As the debate continues, the justification of solitary confinement and other restrictions raises critical questions about the treatment of political detainees in Uganda, their safety, and the extent to which the state’s actions might be contributing to a climate of fear within the prison system. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
