The government has dismissed claims that opposition figure Kizza Besigye is seriously ill and being denied medical care while in detention at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, describing the allegations as exaggerated.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, who also serves as government spokesperson, Chris Baryomunsi said reports suggesting Besigye’s health was deteriorating were inaccurate.
“Allegations were made that he is seriously sick and that government has not attended to his sickness. That’s not true. A few days back, Dr Besigye got some minor diarrhoea illness,” Baryomunsi said.
“He was attended to by his personal doctor and is now well and returned to his usual life within Luzira prison.”
Baryomunsi was responding to recent remarks by Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife, who accused prison authorities of deliberately denying him adequate medical care. Byanyima said that during a recent visit, she found Besigye extremely weak.
The minister described those statements as alarmist and unnecessary.
“Contrary to what has been said by his wife that he is seriously sick and that he is not able to access personal doctors, it is not true. I have spoken to prison authorities and his personal doctors, who also include his biological siblings,” he said.
“While we sympathise with him, it is wrong to always want to over-criticise his situation by falsifying information.”
Baryomunsi further advised Byanyima to focus on praying for a speedy conclusion of Besigye’s legal process.
“She should pray for his speedy trial in court so that his issues are resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
He also raised an issue regarding prison contact protocols, stating that Besigye had provided a list of next of kin to be contacted by prison authorities.
“Maybe to say that when he was taken to prison, he provided a list of the next of kin—those who are contacted in case he wants to get in touch with members of his family. The three names he provided do not include his wife,” Baryomunsi said.
Besigye, a long-time opposition leader and former presidential candidate, remains in detention at Luzira Prison as legal proceedings against him continue.
