Who is Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye
He was allegedly kidnapped in Kenya and taken to prison in Uganda.
3mon agoWILLIAM WANYOIKEInfographics
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye's detention since November 2024 has sparked massive concern around the globe.
Though known as one of the few leaders who have dared to challenge President Yoweri Museveni's decades-long tenure in Uganda, many still know less about who Besigye is.
Born on April 22, 1956, he is the second-born in a family of six. He is a doctor, politician and former military officer.
Besigye went to Kinyasano Primary School and Mbarara Junior School. He later joined Kitante High School for his O-level and Kigezi High School for his A-level
In 1975, he enrolled at Makerere University and five years later, he graduated with a degree in human medicine.
Besigye briefly worked at Mulago National Hospital, before fleeing to Kenya where he worked at the Aga Khan Hospital.
He later on worked at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
In 1982, Besigye joined President Yoweri Museveni's rebel National Resistance Movement and Army (NRM/A).
He served as Museveni’s physician.
In January 1986, when the NRM/A came to power, he was appointed Minister for Internal Affairs.
He later held the positions of Minister of State in the President's office and National Political Commissar.
In 1991, he became commanding officer of the mechanized regiment in Masaka, central Uganda, and in 1993 was appointed the army's chief of logistics and engineering.
In 1999, he wrote a document critical of the government, "An Insider's View of How the NRM Lost the Broad Base".
He was court-martialed for the same but in 2000, the charges were dropped for an apology.
In 2001, Besigye retired from the Uganda People's Defence Forces, having attained the rank of colonel.
In June 2001, he was briefly arrested over allegations of treason.
The government accused him of being behind a rebel group, the People’s Redemption Army (PRA), allegedly based in the DRC.
In August 2001, Besigye fled Uganda, citing persecution by the state, and lived in South Africa for four years.
Besigye served as the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party.
He unsuccessfully vied for the presidency in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, losing the elections to incumbent President Museveni.
In 2021 he did not vie for the position, instead aligned himself with opposition leader Bobi Wine
Besigye has been arrested at least five times, with the most recent being on November 16, 2024, in Nairobi, where he was to attend Martha Karua’s book launch.
Four days later on November 20, Besigye and Hajj Lutale appeared before a military court in Kampala, under the charges of possession of an illegal firearm.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In January 2025, the military court ruled that Besigye could be tried for treachery
On January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that the trial of civilians in military courts was unconstitutional, but this order was ignored.
On February 11, Besigye began a hunger strike and was hospitalized a few days later.
Bobi Wine, Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima and his lawyer have described him as being ill, dizzy and weak.
“We call for the immediate release of those who have been improperly detained. Along with the international community, we will continue to monitor the situation,” the Commonwealth said.
“We call on the Ugandan authorities to respect the Supreme Court decision and immediately free Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Lawyer Eron Kiiza and others unlawfully detained,” other organisations said.
