I have no powers to release Besigye, says Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni for the first time has spoken out about the incarceration of the opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.

"I have no powers to release anyone. As legislators, you know very well that it is the courts to release people. I therefore, seek the protection of the Speaker," he said as he turned to the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga for protection.

Museveni was responding to demands from opposition MPs who stood up in protest waving placards with inscriptions ‘free Dr. Kizza Besigye,' as he addressed Parliament shortly before the budget presentation.

The Speaker managed to calm down the MPs led by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Winnie Kizza.

"I am glad that the honourable members are law abiding just like myself," he said as he continued with the speech.

Earlier, the Aruu County Member of Parliament asked the Vice President, Edward Ssekandi to kindly implore the President to unconditionally forgive the Forum for Democratic Change former presidential candidate.

"As a calm father, urge the President to forgive Kizza Besigye now that elections are over. His woes are not criminal but political," Odonga Otto said.

Besigye facing treason charges is currently on remand at Luzira Prison.

Otto, while speaking as a seconder for a motion to approve Ssekandi as Vice President for a second term, asked him to beg the President to order for the release of Besigye.

He also asked him to inform the President that the composition of the new Cabinet is not fair since the central region has 17, West 13 while East and North have only 5 ministers each.