Winnie Byanyima has fired a salvo at the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, accusing him of misrepresenting the health condition of imprisoned opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
“Minister Baryomunsi is a shameful liar, casually misrepresenting a prisoner who cannot speak for himself,” Byanyima said, expressing outrage over what she described as deliberate misinformation regarding Besigye’s condition.
Byanyima reaffirmed her official status concerning Dr. Besigye’s welfare while in custody.
“I am officially registered at Luzira Prison as the next of kin of Dr. Kizza Besigye. I challenge the Uganda Prison Service to publicly deny this fact,” she said.
She also defended Besigye’s family against claims she said were intended to create division and confusion.
“His sisters are duly listed as carers permitted to bring him food and personal items. This crude attempt to divide our family and manufacture confusion is despicable, dishonest, and beneath public office,” Byanyima added.
Her remarks followed statements by Dr. Baryomunsi dismissing reports that Dr. Besigye was seriously ill, saying the opposition figure had only suffered a mild bout of diarrhoea that was treated by his personal doctor.
This is not the first public disagreement between Byanyima and Baryomunsi over Dr. Besigye’s welfare. During a previous hunger strike by Besigye while in prison, Baryomunsi claimed he had visited him and advised him to resume eating, asserting that Besigye accepted the advice.
Byanyima later disputed the account, accusing the minister of lying and stating that the visit was forced on Besigye, who, according to her, did not respond to the minister during the encounter.
Besigye had a minor Diarrhoea, Byanyima was only being alarmist- Baryomunsi
