The Executive Director of The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and wife of jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, Dr Winnie Byanyima, has decried his return to the prison cells despite his weak state.
In a post on her X account on Monday, Dr Byanyima who expressed her anger and hurt at the decision, revealed that Besigye’s sisters who had been taking care of him at the prison hospital had also been sent away.
“I am hurt, angry and anxious. @kizzabesigye1 has been returned to his prison cell, and his sisters who have been caring for him at the prison hospital have been sent away” she said.
Dr Byanyima noted that the prison conditions will undermine Dr Besigye’s recovery process, since he remains extremely weak and in need of family care.
“He is still extremely weak and needs family care. Prison conditions will undermine his recovery. Yet Judge Baguma has brushed aside his medical condition and carried on with this sham trial. They may even carry him to court tomorrow” she said.
She has further demanded for Besigye’s right to health to be respected and he is flown out to Geneva in Switzerland, for proper medical care until his full recovery when he can be returned to court to stand trial for the treason charges against him.
“Returning a very weak man to an airless, dark, bedbug-infested cell and denying him family care is cruel and a violation of his human rights” she said.
She added, “After @mkainerugaba’s public threat that @kizzabesigye1 would leave prison in a coffin, I cannot remain silent. Are they trying to make that threat a reality?”.
Besigye’s return to the cells, comes days after a psychiatric assessment from Mulago National Referral Hospital, dated August 17th, revealed that he remained alert and able to understand information but was unable to speak or write following his collapse in court on July 29th.
The report further revealed that the retired colonel, had “preserved comprehension”, an expressive communication impairment that could substantially interfere with his ability to participate in his defence.
The report said he could communicate by pointing to letters and numbers, but this method made it difficult to give detailed instructions to lawyers or communicate effectively about his defence.
Doctors recommended further communication assessment and continued speech, language, physical, occupational and neurological rehabilitation.
Although Besigye is currently weak due to health concerns, his treason trial alongside his co accused Hajj Obeid Lutale, resumes today in his absence before the High Court Criminal Division, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma.
Prosecution is today expected to play videos and audios arising from the alleged meetings in which Dr Kizza Besigye, Joel Wakayima and Private Security Investigator Andrew Wilson aka Orlando discussed the plot to overthrow the government of Uganda.
