By Ben Musanje
The political storm around veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye has taken a dramatic turn after the Chief of Defence Forces and First Son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted a provocative video on his X page alleging that Besigye was plotting to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni. The 1 minute and 10 seconds clip, showing slightly unclear images of men seated in a room, carried a caption claiming Besigye was in Geneva acquiring weapons for the alleged plot—an effort that Gen Muhoozi says he personally thwarted.
The post comes as Besigye continues to face treason charges in a civilian court, nearly nine months after he was dramatically abducted from neighboring Kenya in November 2025 and returned to Uganda. Besigye’s trial, transferred from a military tribunal following a Supreme Court ruling that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, has stirred controversy and concerns over political persecution ahead of Uganda’s national elections next year.
Besigye, 68, who has previously run against Museveni in four elections, has consistently denied wrongdoing. His lawyers argued that he should have been granted automatic bail after spending over 180 days in detention without trial, citing Ugandan law. However, Judge Emmanuel Baguma ruled that the statutory period had not yet been met since Besigye’s remand in civilian court began on February 21, leaving him just short of the 180-day threshold.
The opposition leader appeared visibly frail in Nakawa Magistrates Court, wheeled in alongside his co-accused Obeid Lutale and military officer Denis Oola. The court was presented with a charge sheet accusing Besigye of holding meetings in Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya between 2023 and November 2025, allegedly to orchestrate a coup against Museveni’s government. The charges claim he sought military, financial, and logistical support for the purported plot.
Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago, requested that he be transferred to a better health facility due to his deteriorating condition, but Magistrate Esther Nyadoi dismissed the application, citing lack of jurisdiction to grant such relief. The court remanded Besigye and his co-accused until next month to allow the prosecution to complete its investigation.
The veteran politician, a former personal physician to Museveni, previously held the position of a military officer but has spent decades as a vocal opposition figure, often clashing with the long-serving president over election disputes and allegations of voter intimidation. He recently called off a hunger strike that had drawn public attention to his continued detention and fragile health.
Government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine, have expressed alarm over what they perceive as a crackdown on political dissent. Rights groups have warned that the continued detention of prominent opposition figures, coupled with sensational claims on social media, risks escalating political tensions in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
The video posted by Gen Muhoozi has drawn widespread attention, though some analysts caution that its context and authenticity remain unclear. Observers note that Besigye has faced repeated arrests over the years, including on charges of inciting violence in 2022, but has consistently maintained his innocence and accused the government of politically motivated persecution.
As the case unfolds, Uganda finds itself at the center of a high-stakes political drama. The allegations in Gen Muhoozi’s post add a new and explosive layer to the ongoing legal proceedings against one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures. With the national election looming and the government denying targeted attacks on opposition leaders, the eyes of both domestic and international observers remain fixed on Kampala, where the courtroom battle continues to intertwine with social media accusations, political rivalry, and public debate over the limits of dissent in Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
