Besigye: A Lifetime of Resistance – Is This the Final Chapter?

For nearly three decades, Dr. Kizza Besigye has been the face of Uganda’s opposition, challenging President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing rule.

From his time as Museveni’s personal doctor during the 1981–1986 bush war to becoming a four-time presidential candidate, Besigye’s journey has been defined by defiance, arrests, exile, and political resilience.

But today, as he remains behind bars since November, Uganda’s opposition landscape faces an uncertain future. Is this the end of Besigye’s political fight? Or will his absence ignite a new wave of resistance?

Besigye first rose to national prominence in 1999 when he openly criticised Museveni’s government for betraying the ideals of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

His boldness led to his first presidential bid in 2001, a campaign marred by violence, intimidation, and allegations of vote-rigging.

Since then, Besigye has run for president four times (2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016), each time facing state repression. His campaigns—marked by mass arrests, house detentions, and tear gas confrontations—galvanised thousands who saw him as a symbol of democratic resistance.

His 2011 “Walk to Work” protests against rising commodity prices were met with brutal crackdowns, including multiple arrests.

In 2016, after another disputed election, he was sworn in as a “people’s president,” leading to a treason charge and yet another arrest.

Now, with 2026 elections approaching, Besigye’s prolonged absence leaves a critical leadership gap in the opposition. Other key figures, including Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, have opted to retain their current political positions rather than contest the presidency.

Meanwhile, many in the opposition are shifting their allegiance to the National Unity Platform (NUP) under Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), leaving Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom(PFF) in limbo.

"Besigye has been the heartbeat of Uganda’s opposition. Without him actively leading, we are left with scattered voices," says political analyst Dr. Mwambutsya Ndebesa.

Besigye’s imprisonment is not an isolated case but part of Uganda’s wider crackdown on dissent. Opposition figures, journalists, and activists continue to face arrests, media restrictions, and political suppression.

The big question remains: Does Besigye’s incarceration mark the end of his political journey, or will he rise once again?

For some, his prolonged absence signals a fading resistance, while for others, it is a testament to the state’s fear of his influence.

"Besigye’s struggle is bigger than him. Even if he is not on the ballot in 2026, his fight has shaped Uganda’s democracy. The question is, who will take up the mantle?" asks opposition activist Sarah Bireete.

With Museveni seeking to extend his nearly 40-year rule, Uganda’s opposition stands at a crossroads. Besigye’s future, whether in detention, exile, or an unexpected comeback, remains a defining factor in Uganda’s political landscape.