Winnie Byanyima Returning to Uganda to Take Care of Spouse Besigye after Prisons Officer Blocked Her from Phone Briefing by Mulago Doctors

Winnie Byanyima, the spouse of veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, has announced that she is returning to Uganda from Brazil after a prison officer allegedly blocked her from participating in a medical briefing by doctors treating her husband at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Byanyima, who also serves as Executive Director of UNAIDS, said she was denied the opportunity to join a family briefing by phone despite being Besigye’s next of kin.

The development comes amid mounting concern over Besigye’s health condition following reports that he remains critically ill and under close medical supervision at Mulago Hospital.

In a strongly worded statement shared on Friday, Byanyima accused a Prison Officer only identified as Siima of preventing her from taking part in the briefing.

“Our family received a briefing from the Mulago doctors treating KB. Yet Prison Officer Siima denied me, his next of kin, the right to join the briefing by phone. His reason? He ‘didn’t have permission.'”

She condemned the decision as an abuse of authority and a violation of basic human dignity.

“This is the arrogance of arbitrary power. Even at a patient’s bedside, basic rights and human dignity are treated as privileges to be granted or withheld.”

Byanyima also revealed that she was immediately making arrangements to travel back to Uganda to be by Besigye’s side.

“I am on my way from Rio to be with my spouse. Stand aside, Siima. No one will keep me from him.”

Her remarks are expected to fuel further questions about the handling of Besigye’s medical care and access to family members as concern grows over the condition of the four-time presidential candidate.

The latest statement follows a series of alarming updates from relatives and political allies who have said Besigye has been battling serious health complications while in detention. Earlier reports from family members indicated that doctors were still trying to determine the cause of his deteriorating condition.

Neither the Uganda Prisons Service nor the authorities overseeing Besigye’s detention had publicly responded to Byanyima’s allegations by the time of publication.

Meanwhile, Winnie Byanyima and Doreen Nyanjura have given the latest updates on Besigye health condition, as detailed Here.