Government spokesperson and longtime political commentator, Ofwono Opondo, has weighed in on the ongoing detention of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, drawing comparisons with other high-profile cases.
Speaking during NBS Frontline on Thursday, Opondo, who is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Unopposed Older Persons Member of Parliament for the Eastern Region, stressed that Besigye is not alone in facing prolonged legal proceedings.
“Dr. Besigye isn’t the only one under the same peril. Jamil Mukulu is a similar case," Opondo said, noting that the pace of civil courts often delays the resolution of sensitive legal matters.
He clarified that while he no longer speaks on behalf of the government, at the time of Besigye’s arrest, officials expressed a desire for an expedited trial in a court martial.
“His lawyers made a lot of noise, and the case was transferred to the civil courts. I’m sure Besigye would have been convicted or acquitted by now if he had been tried in the court martial," Opondo said.
On the subject of political contests, Opondo reflected on his own unopposed election.
“My case of being unopposed isn’t as extreme as others. I don’t have the power to remove an opponent. There are people who literally remove opponents. In fact, next week another unopposed candidate will be named,” he said.
He also disclosed that he had obtained a printed voters’ register for his constituency from the Electoral Commission, including names, National Identification Numbers (NINs), and phone contacts.
During the same debate, Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda observed Opondo’s demeanor, saying, “I don’t know what Besigye did to Ofwono Opondo. He is normally very tense when discussing Besigye.”
“Opondo’s gestures are misplaced because to the best of my knowledge he doesn't even know why Dr. Besigye is being tried,” said Lawyer and Political Analyst Wanda Ronald Samuel.
As of 16 November 2025, Besigye and his co-accused, Lutale, have spent exactly 365 days in detention following their abduction in Nairobi on 16 November 2024 and subsequent transfer to Kampala.
They were arraigned before the General Court Martial on charges related to national security and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and have been held at Luzira Maximum Security Prison amid stalled court proceedings.
Legal efforts to secure bail have repeatedly been denied. In April 2025, High Court Justice Rosette Comfort Kaniarejected their first formal bail application, despite acknowledging that legal thresholds for release had been met.
The application cited Besigye’s age (68), deteriorating health, and prolonged pre-trial detention exceeding 150 days. Justice Kania cited their “high standing in society” and the gravity of treason charges as potential risks to ongoing investigations.
Critics argued the ruling contradicted Ugandan bail law, and the defence subsequently filed a mandatory bail application in May 2025 before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court. The magistrate declined jurisdiction, citing 2022 bail guidelines, and referred the matter to the High Court.
In August 2025, Justice Emmanuel Baguma dismissed the renewed bail application, asserting that the 180-day constitutional limit for pre-trial detention began only on 21 February 2025, when Besigye and Lutale were formally charged with treason—contrary to the defence’s position that their lawful remand had been continuous since November 2024.
A standard bail petition remains pending amid calls for Justice Baguma’s recusal over alleged bias, leaving the matter unresolved.
The one-year mark of Besigye’s detention has intensified debates over political freedoms, judicial independence, and the treatment of opposition leaders in Uganda.
Besigye, a prominent opposition figure for over two decades, has faced repeated arrests and legal battles, including treason charges in 2005, allegations of sexual assault later dismissed, and arrests during the 2011 Walk-to-Work protests.
Despite stepping back from presidential contests after 2016, he remains a central voice in opposition politics.
Analysts caution that continued detention could have far-reaching consequences for Uganda’s political stability, especially as the nation approaches its next electoral cycle.
Opondo’s remarks underscore the ongoing tension between state security concerns, judicial processes, and the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms.