Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye Initiates Hunger Strike Amid Unconstitutional Military Trial

Kampala, Uganda – Prominent Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye has commenced a hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention and impending trial in a military court, actions that persist despite a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring such proceedings against civilians unconstitutional.

Dr. Besigye, a former presidential candidate and long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was apprehended in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024. He was subsequently transferred to Uganda, where he faces charges including illegal possession of firearms and treachery—a charge that carries the death penalty. 

These allegations have been widely perceived by human rights organizations and his supporters as politically motivated.

On January 31, 2025, Uganda's Supreme Court ruled that the military prosecution of civilians is unconstitutional, ordering an immediate cessation of such trials and the transfer of ongoing cases to civilian courts. 

Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo emphasized that military courts lack the legal competence to conduct fair trials for civilians and should be confined to military disciplinary matters. 

Despite this landmark decision, the Ugandan military has declared its intention to proceed with Dr. Besigye's trial in the General Court Martial. 

A military spokesperson stated, "Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will Colonel Kizza Besigye be RELEASED until he faces the FULL EXTENT of MARTIAL LAW," directly challenging the Supreme Court's ruling. 

In response to his continued detention and the military's defiance of the judiciary, Dr. Besigye has initiated a hunger strike. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, who also serves as the Executive Director of UNAIDS, confirmed his decision, stating that he is resolute in his protest against what he perceives as an illegal and unjust detention. The international community has expressed growing concern over Uganda's use of military courts to try civilians, viewing it as a tactic to suppress political dissent. 

Human rights organizations have long criticized this practice, asserting that it undermines the principles of justice and the rule of law.

Dr. Besigye's hunger strike highlights the escalating tensions between Uganda's judiciary and military, raising critical questions about the country's commitment to democratic principles and the independence of its institutions. As the situation unfolds, the world watches closely, awaiting the government's next move in this high-stakes political and legal confrontation.

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