The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has demanded the immediate release of its founding leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, citing concerns over his deteriorating health while in detention.
Speaking at the party’s weekly press briefing, Mulindwa Walid Lubega, the Deputy Secretary for Publicity in charge of Documentation and Publications, expressed alarm over Besigye’s condition under prison authorities.
“We are gravely concerned about Dr. Besigye’s deteriorating health. Although he was taken to a medical facility at Bugolobi Village Mall under heavy security deployment, we demand his absolute freedom,” Lubega stated.
He further urged the government to allow Besigye access to specialized treatment at a facility of his choice, citing Article 8A(1) of the Ugandan Constitution, which recognizes healthcare as a fundamental human right.
While the FDC maintains that the clinic Besigye was taken to is inadequate to address his condition, the government insists otherwise.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, stated on NBS TV’s Morning Breeze that Besigye’s visit was for routine medical checks and not due to a critical health condition.
The FDC is now calling on the government to take full responsibility for ensuring that Besigye receives proper medical attention and is treated fairly under the law. They are also demanding his unconditional release, in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Besigye was arrested in November alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and later arraigned before the General Court Martial on charges of illegal possession of firearms and treachery.
