The President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, has expressed his support for Dr. Kizza Besigye’s decision to go on a hunger strike.
Akena referred to the hunger strike as “a real option” for anyone facing incarceration and emphasized the importance of using available tools to assert one’s rights.
“Personally, I feel that the option available and the option that has been taken up by Dr. Kizza Besigye is a real option for any of us who may find ourselves incarcerated for whatever reason,” Akena said. “It makes sense to use whatever tool is available. On that basis, I agree with the actions he has taken. Today it might be Besigye, tomorrow it might be Akena facing the same situation.”
Akena’s backing of Besigye’s hunger strike comes amid growing concerns about the opposition leader’s health and well-being.
Besigye, a long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, was detained in November and charged with illegal possession of firearms and treachery, a charge that carries the death penalty.
In addition to supporting Besigye, Akena called on Ugandans to use this moment to critically assess the continued interference of security organs in the country’s political affairs.
This call arises as many citizens grow increasingly concerned about how the government handles opposition leaders and the role of security forces in politics.
As the situation unfolds, the public remains keen on observing how the government will respond to Besigye’s hunger strike and Akena’s public endorsement of the opposition leader’s actions.
