Besigye Goes on Hunger Strike Amid Legal Battle.

Kampala, Uganda – November 20, 2024

Uganda’s veteran opposition leader, retired Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye, has gone on a hunger strike while facing trial at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala. Besigye, a longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, was seen standing in the steel dock as legal proceedings against him continued.

Sources indicate that Besigye has refused to eat since his detention, signaling a protest against what he considers an unfair judicial process. His legal troubles are part of a broader controversy surrounding the prosecution of civilians in military courts, a practice that the Supreme Court recently ruled against.

In a related incident, another activist, Mr. Ssuna, was intercepted at Constitution Square while chanting slogans demanding constitutional rights. “Free our constitution! I have a right to rise up against the violation of the constitution as a concerned Ugandan,” he declared before being taken into custody.

Mr. Ssuna’s arrest follows last year’s detention in Luzira Maximum Prison, where he reportedly refused to see his lawyer. His situation has been further complicated by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on January 31, 2024, which ordered the immediate cessation of all civilian prosecutions in military courts and the transfer of their cases to civilian judicial systems.

Despite this ruling, concerns remain about the enforcement of the decision, as Besigye and other opposition figures continue to face trial under the military court system. Human rights activists have called for his immediate release, citing the Supreme Court’s directive and urging the government to uphold the rule of law.

As tensions rise, Besigye’s hunger strike adds another layer of pressure on authorities, fueling renewed calls for judicial reforms and greater respect for constitutional rights in Uganda.

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