The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has tasked the Committee on Human Rights to research the detention situations of Dr Kizza Besigye.
Besigye, a distinguished opposition politician is at present being held at Luzira Maximum Security Prison on expenses of allegedly soliciting army help abroad to destabilise Uganda’s nationwide safety.
Tayebwa’s directive follows issues raised by legislators throughout a plenary session on Thursday, 23 January 2025, over alleged human rights violations towards Besigye and different inmates at Luzira jail.
The committee is now scheduled to go to the power on Friday, 24 January 2025 and report their findings to Parliament by Tuesday, 28 January 2025. The report is predicted to offer a foundation for additional debate on the alleged human rights violations and Besigye’s detention situations.
Hon. Francis Mwijukye (FDC, Buhweju County) expressed frustration, highlighting Parliament’s repeated inaction on the matter. “We can not proceed debating as if we’re unaware of the human rights violations occurring in our prisons. Images of Dr Besigye wanting frail and sickly are in every single place within the media. Parliament should take a decisive stand,” he stated.
Similarly, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (JEMA, Bugiri Municipality) described Besigye’s detention in cages as unprecedented and known as for readability on whether or not there was a coverage shift in dealing with prisoners. “Luzira Prison has by no means handled guests and inmates in such a fashion. This is alien,” he stated.
Basalirwa warned that if Besigye’s well being deteriorates additional, Parliament would bear accountability for its inaction.
The Leader of the Opposition Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, urged authorities to take accountability for the welfare of all detainees, citing previous failures such because the late Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya’s case.
“Are we ready to pay tribute to Dr Kizza Besigye, as we did for Ssegirinya? Let us not fail one other Ugandan,” Ssenyonyi warned.
Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality) criticiSed members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for dismissing opposition issues about human rights.
“This is not only about Dr Besigye being in opposition. Many NRM leaders, together with former Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya and Minister Jim Muhwezi, have been in jail. Human rights violations have an effect on everybody,” he argued.
Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba (Indep., Ndorwa County East) reminded Parliament that even legal guidelines just like the Public Order Management Act, initially geared toward opposition members, had impacted their architects inside the ruling get together.
