Winnie Byanyima, the wife of veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, has expressed disappointment over what she describes as the deafening silence of religious leaders in the face of alleged state violence, abductions, and unlawful detentions.
Byanyima condemned the lack of outcry from faith leaders, arguing that their silence is failing the young people who are the primary victims of these injustices.
“Men of God, you are letting down our young people who are the main victims of state violence,” she stated.
She called on religious leaders to take a stand and speak out against these alleged human rights violations.
“Now is the time to speak out!” she urged.
Byanyima’s remarks were triggered by a recent visit by the Uganda Inter-Religious Council to Luzira Prison, where they met Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Haji Obeid Lutale. She acknowledged the visit, led by Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, as a positive gesture but emphasized that more needed to be done.
“At Luzira Prison, I was pleasantly surprised to see a delegation from the Uganda Inter-Religious Council, led by Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, visiting Kizza Besigye and Haji Lutale. I appreciate their visit,” she said.
However, she urged religious leaders not to stop at visits but to actively speak out against the injustices happening in the country.
