Winnie Byanyima has renewed calls for the release of opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye, saying his continued detention is political and aimed at silencing his voice.
In a message shared on social media on Christmas Day, Ms Byanyima said she and their son, Anselm, visited Dr Besigye at Luzira Prison, marking what she described as their second Christmas without him as a free man.
“Yesterday, Anselm and I visited him at Luzira and brought our gifts, a reminder that love and solidarity can reach through any walls,” she said.
Ms Byanyima, a long-time human rights advocate, insisted that Dr Besigye has committed no crime and that his imprisonment is intended to erase his political legacy.
“KB has not committed any crime. His imprisonment is political — an attempt to silence his voice and erase his legacy,” she added.
Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and former Forum for Democratic Change leader, has been a central figure in Uganda’s opposition politics for more than two decades. His arrests and prosecutions over the years have frequently drawn criticism from rights groups and opposition supporters, who argue that the legal actions against him are politically motivated. The government has consistently rejected those claims, maintaining that the law applies equally to all citizens.
Ms Byanyima said the family would continue to stand with Dr Besigye and others seeking justice, thanking supporters who have kept him in their prayers and thoughts.
“We will stand with him, and with all who seek justice,” she said.
Dr Besigye’s continued incarceration remains a sensitive political issue, particularly as Uganda approaches the 2026 general elections, with opposition figures calling for greater political freedoms and respect for human rights.
