For over half a year now, Uganda’s veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Kamulegeya have been in prison over treason charges since they were kidnapped from the Kenyan capital Nairobi in November 2024. Now, a a bush war general tells Besigye: you have no option but to negotiate with Museveni.
Dr Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya have spent over six months in prison on remand since they were kidnapped from Nairobi in the Ugandan eastern neighbour of Kenya where they had gone to attend Martha Karua’s book launch.
In February, Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo preferred charges of treason against Besigye, Lutale and Captain Denis Oola.
According to the charge sheet, Besigye, Lutaale Captain Oola and others still at large, between the year 2023 and November 2024, in various places or countries, including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, contrived a plot, act or matter by force of arms to overturn the Government of Uganda as by law established and expressed or declared such plot, act or matter by utterances and overt acts.
State prosecution further accused the trio of travelling to various countries including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya for purposes of attending meetings to further the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established, attending meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kampala in Uganda in furtherance of the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
Prosecution further accused Besigye of utterances to various individuals during meetings and privately expressing desire and intent to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established, providing logistical support and organizing for several Ugandan citizens to travel to Kisumu, Kenya to receive training in various military and intelligence gathering techniques and soliciting for military, financial and other logistical support to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
Regarding the alternative charge of misprision of treason, the state prosecution alleged that Besigye, Lutaale and Oola and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, knowing that another person intended to commit treason did not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police Station or use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the treason.
TUMUKUNDE ADVISES BESIGYE
Now, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, a former security minister, and bushwar comrade of Dr Besigye, has revealed that he has advised the four-time presidential candidate to negotiate with President Yoweri Museveni so as to regain his freedom.
Both Tumukunde and Besigye come from Rukungiri.
Tumukunde said he has visited Besigye in prison and encouraged him to hold talks with President Museveni.
Tumukunde, who is seeking to become Rukungiri Municipality MP, told reporters after picking his nomination forms at the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) offices in Kampala that he has made it clear to Besigye that the only way he would be assured of his freedom is if he accepted to “compromise.”
It was not clear what Besigye’s reaction to such advice was. But Uganda’s most arrested man has previously shown the resolve to fight on despite the conditions.
Besigye recently complained about being bitten by bedbugs in prison, as reported Here.
It should be remembered that Museveni’s son had hinted on a plot to hang Besigye over treason based on allegations that he wanted to kill the president, according to leaked audios, that some have dismissed as being ‘cooked.’ (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima has previously responded calls for her to beg Museveni to forgive Besigye, as reported Here and Here
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