International • Created February 17, 2025 03:30

UGANDA: Gov’t to drop military trial of hunger-striking opponent

Uganda’s government on Sunday said it would drop a military trial against opposition figurehead Kizza Besigye, urging him to give up his hunger strike in jail, a minister said. Besigye, a former ally turned rival of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, went on a hunger strike on February 10 in protest at his detention. Charging him […]

UGANDA: Gov’t to drop military trial of hunger-striking opponent
UGANDA: Gov’t to drop military trial of hunger-striking opponent

Uganda’s government on Sunday said it would drop a military trial against opposition figurehead Kizza Besigye, urging him to give up his hunger strike in jail, a minister said.

Besigye, a former ally turned rival of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, went on a hunger strike on February 10 in protest at his detention.

Charging him with treason for allegedly threatening “national security”, the government has vowed to try him in a military court, despite a Supreme Court ruling that such a move against a civilian is unconstitutional.

Now, however, “the government is fast-tracking the transfer of Besigye’s case from the court martial to the civil court,” cabinet spokesman and information minister Chris Baryomunsi said. “As a government, we are complying with the ruling of the Supreme Court.”

The minister said in an earlier message on X that he had visited Besigye in prison on Sunday “in the presence of his personal doctors” and “asked him to resume taking food” pending the transfer.

 

Tags