Since time immemorial, former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has been a staunch opposition politician in Uganda.
Besigye is one of the bush war soldiers who participated in the 1986 liberation war, which paved the way for the establishment of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The NRM, a ruling party, has been in power for 39 years and is credited with bringing peace and stability to the country.
Besigye was allegedly a personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni during and after the liberation struggle. After graduating from Makerere University in 1980, he worked at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, and Kenyatta National Hospital before joining the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1982.
After the war, he served in various government positions, including as Minister of Internal Affairs. However, in 1999, Besigye wrote a document criticizing the government.
Titled An Insider’s View of How the NRM Lost the Broad Base, the document accused the NRM of becoming a sectarian kleptocracy and a one-man dictatorship. As a result, Besigye was charged before a court-martial for airing his views in the wrong forum.
How He Avoided Court Martial and Launched His Political Career
Some sources suggested that Besigye brokered a deal in 2000, which allegedly led to the dropping of charges in exchange for an apology. However, former Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) stalwarts dismissed these claims.
According to a confidential source, upon learning that Besigye was set to be court-martialed, UPC party members called him for a meeting under a small tree at Makerere University Guest House.
The meeting was chaired by former Obote Minister Adonia Tebirondwa, alongside Yona Kanyomozi, former Minister of Planning and Economic Development Sam Odaka, Edward Kakonge, and others.
“During the meeting, UPC advised Besigye on the best course of action following his criticism of the NRM government. Based on their experience, they urged him to declare his candidacy for the presidency,” the source revealed.
Although initially puzzled, Besigye realized that this was the only way he could avoid court-martial and secure his release from the army. He subsequently declared his intention to run against President Yoweri Museveni in the 2001 presidential election, which allegedly halted his arrest and trial in the court-martial.
Since then, he has contested in all presidential elections except the 2021 election. Throughout his activism, Besigye has been arrested and charged multiple times. He is currently facing treason charges.
Current Legal Challenges
Besigye was allegedly abducted last year in Nairobi, where he had attended a book launch hosted by Kenyan opposition politician and lawyer Martha Karua.
The charge sheet states that Besigye and his co-accused, Obedi Lutale, traveled to various countries, including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, to attend meetings aimed at plotting to overthrow the Ugandan government. Prosecutors claim that they engaged in discussions both in person and virtually in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala to further this agenda.
Furthermore, between 2023 and November 2024, Besigye, Lutale, and another co-accused, Oola, along with others still at large, allegedly failed to report knowledge of an impending act of treason to the relevant authorities, including the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate, or a police officer, as required by law.
