The family of Dr. Kizza Besigye has expressed its distress over his continued detention, warning that his hunger strike is taking a toll on his health.
In a statement read by his sister, Edith Byanyima, the family condemned what they alleged was illegal detention in defiance of court orders, equating it to state-sanctioned kidnapping.
They also brought their caution to light about Besigye’s well-being after receiving an unexpected request to send his personal doctor to assess him, something authorities had previously denied.
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“This sudden change fills us with terror. It signals that his condition may have taken a turn for the worse. We are speaking out now because we fear the worst may be imminent,” Edith Byanyima added.
This statement comes after officials suggested that Besigye was simply unwell, an assertion the family strongly disputes.
They maintain that his ongoing hunger strike is a desperate act against unlawful detention, not a case of illness.
“Each day of his illegal detention brings fresh anguish to our family. We are not politicians seeking power or influence. We are simply a family scared and desperate for his safety,” the statement read.
Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and National Resistance Army veteran, has had a long history of confrontations with the government.
He has been arrested multiple times over the years on charges ranging from inciting violence to treason.
His current detention stems from his continued activism against economic hardships, governance issues, and human rights violations in Uganda.
He was arrested in late January 2025 after he attempted to mobilize protests against what he called “state-engineered economic oppression.”
Besigye has currently embarked on a hunger strike, refusing food as a form of protest against what he calls “state brutality and judicial impunity.”
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