Besigye wife Byanyima calls for dialogue on 'political issues'

KAMPALA - Jailed Opposition strongman Dr Kizza Besigye's wife Winnie Byanyima has called for dialogue to address political issues in Uganda ahead of a Holy Mass for the four-time presidential candidate.

Byanyima, who serves as UNAIDS executive director, claimed on February 22, 2026, that the charges against Besigye and many other prisoners are political.

“Political differences should be solved through dialogue. We welcome dialogue on political issues. I did not ask for negotiations for [the] release of Besigye,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter, while clarifying her position in a recent interview with the media at the couple's home in Kasangati, Wakiso district.  

Besigye and his long-time aide, Hajji Obeid Lutale, were arrested in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, on November 16, 2024, and subsequently brought home and charged with several firearms and security-related offences at the General Court Martial, which later remanded them to Luzira Prison.

On February 21, 2025, they were charged in the Nakawa Chief Magistrates’ Court with treason and remanded to Luzira Prison along with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces officer, Capt. Denis Oola.

Besigye emerged on the political scene in 2001 and went on to become the face of Uganda’s Opposition for close to 20 years. He contested in the elections of 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, losing all of them to President Yoweri Museveni.

Byanyima also claimed that the “flimsy charges” against National Unity Platform (NUP) party deputy presidents such as Dr Lina Zedriga and Jolly Jacklyn Tukamushaba are political.

“The flimsy charges against the leaders who have been held, like the NUP deputies Lina Zedriga Lina and Jacklyn Tukamushaba, are political. The charges probably that they would bring against all these more than 600 people they are holding would be political. So, it is a political question,” she claimed.

Zedriga, who is NUP deputy president for northern Uganda, was recently further remanded to prison over allegations of inciting violence, while Tukamushaba, her western region counterpart, who also faces similar charges, was freed on bail.

“And yes, we want the political issues to be settled on the table through negotiation, not by imprisonment, by torture, by violence. Yes, if there is an opportunity to discuss [the political issues, we welcome it],” Byanyima, the former MP, said.

Encouraging dialogue

In June last year, Byanyima revealed that she had talked to some people in President Museveni’s Cabinet and encouraged them to have a political dialogue.

“Yes, I have talked to some people who are in the Executive branch and encouraged them to have a political dialogue,” she disclosed during a press conference at her residence.

“Besigye is open to dialogue because he is a democrat and he has dedicated himself to this struggle to give Ugandans a fair chance to choose their leaders. So, if there is dialogue, why won’t he come to the table? Of course, he would come to the table,” she emphasised.

Byanyima, however, called for “clear objectives” and a process that is facilitated mutually, saying they are important for dialogue to take place.

“And this would take some humility and trust on the part of President Museveni and his NRM [National Resistance Movement] party to trust some neutral facilitation,” she said.
Asked whether the people in the Executive arm of government she had contacted over dialogue were making much headway with it, she said: “No, they are not making much progress obviously.”

Holy Mass for Besigye

Meanwhile, Besigye’s family has today (February 23, 2026) organised a Holy Mass for him, all prisoners and the sick at Rubaga Cathedral Church in Kampala at 12:00pm.

NUP president, who has remained in hiding since losing last month’s general election to Museveni, Robert Kyagulanyi, has taken to X and encouraged Ugandans of goodwill to attend this Holy Mass.

“Dr Besigye remains under unjustified detention for over a year now - prevented from accessing medical care of his choice despite his deteriorating health. May God hear the collective prayers of the people of Uganda for freedom,” Kyagulanyi posted on social media.