IF I DIE I DIE! Ugandan MP Goes on Hunger Strike Over Besigye Imprisonment

A Ugandan MP has gone on hunger strike and sworn to eat anything until veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has been released.

Dr Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya have spent nearly 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.

Now, Godfrey Atkins Katusabe, the Bukonzo West (Kasese) MP who belongs to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) faction allied to Dr Besigye, says he will not touch food or any drink until the four-time presidential candidate and his aide have been released.

Atkins Katusabe made his intention known before all MPs. By the time of filing this report, he was in his second day of hunger strike.

As he declared his hunger strike during plenary, Atkins Katusabe said it hurt him and his conscience that Ugandans were going to celebrate Easter with Besigye in prison and pretend that everything was okay.

But as he made this announcement, he was interrupted by Busia Municipality MP Geofrey Macho who claimed that Katusabe was wasting time.

He seemed determined to keep fasting until his pleas for the release of Dr Besigye and Lutale have been heard.

BESIGYE, LUTALE CHARGES

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.

It should be remembered that Besigye was last week denied bail despite meeting all the requirements. Read about Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, the acting judge who denied Besigye bail Here.

On April 16, protesters have held a mannequin demo in Kampala calling for the release of Besigye and other political prisoners, as reported Here.

Still wondering who Atkins Katusabe is? He is the MP that some colleagues once complained about because of his American accent, as reported Here.

Meanwhile, an MP made MPs laugh uncontrollably as he explained why Northern Uganda girls and women don’t have “nyash” and as he gave an interesting definition for ‘nyash’. Watch video and read more Here.

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