Erias Lukwago, the lawyer for jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, has confirmed that his client has been moved to solitary confinement at Luzira Maximum Prison.
Last week, a military court further remanded Besigye to Luzira prison, along with Hajj Obeid Lutale, until February 3, 2025.
Lukwago expressed grave concern over Besigye’s safety, stating that his life is in immediate danger. “The nation should be worried. We are extremely concerned that Dr. Besigye’s life is at risk. It is abundantly clear that there is a mission underway to finish him off, just as we alerted you a few weeks ago,” said Lukwago.
Lukwago revealed that Besigye is currently being held in solitary confinement, a cage-like structure with glass walls and a telephone line for communication purposes.
He added that access to Besigye has become increasingly difficult. “Initially, when he was first remanded, it wasn’t easy to access him, but there were standard checks like in any other prison facility. However, over time, stringent measures have been imposed, making it nearly impossible for us to reach him today,” said Lukwago.
Further reports indicate that Besigye has gone on a hunger strike in protest. Prison authorities allegedly issued an order that he must either eat prison food or starve to death.
In response to these allegations, Frank Baine, the spokesperson for Uganda Prisons, dismissed the reports as “fake news.” He defended the prison system, saying, “We have 80,000 inmates, and our job is to keep them alive, not to harm them. Yes, we carry out executions by hanging, but only for those convicted by the courts. We don’t kill people without due process. The courts decide, and the president endorses those decisions.”
