Common Man’s Party (CMP) presidential flag bearer Mubarak Munyagwa has called on Uganda’s Judiciary to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice for detained opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, warning that continued detention without trial erodes public confidence in the courts.
Munyagwa made the remarks on Friday during a visit to Luzira Prison, where he met the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, who has been in detention for several months over charges of unlawful assembly and incitement of violence.
He urged Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and the Judiciary to act independently and review the legality of Besigye’s continued detention, noting that the constitutional six-month period for bringing an accused person to trial had already elapsed.
“Ugandans look to the Judiciary as a symbol of hope and justice,” Munyagwa said. “If those entrusted with defending the Constitution fail to do so, the same law will one day turn against them. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”
Munyagwa described the conditions under which Dr. Besigye is being held as “harsh and worrying,” adding that the situation raises constitutional and human rights concerns.
He said his visit to Luzira was both humanitarian and symbolic—intended to show solidarity with fellow opposition figures and reaffirm his commitment to justice, equality, and democratic principles.
“The Constitution is the backbone of our democracy. When we ignore it for political convenience, we all become vulnerable,” Munyagwa added.
Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and one of President Yoweri Museveni’s fiercest critics, has long argued that his legal troubles are politically motivated.
His legal team has filed multiple petitions challenging his detention and trial process.
Following the Luzira visit, Munyagwa announced that he will continue his nationwide mobilization tour, with campaign stops in Ntungamo and Kabale on Saturday, before proceeding to Rukungiri—Besigye’s home district—on Sunday.
The 2026 presidential race is expected to feature several opposition figures, with Munyagwa positioning himself as the voice of “the ordinary Ugandan” under the CMP banner.