Uganda Prisons Service has dismissed reports that veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye is on a hunger strike in Luzira prison where he is incarcerated.
One of Besigye’s lawyers, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said earlier this week that the four-time presidential candidate had gone on a hunger strike in protest against his detention.
However, Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine said the reports are not true, noting that Besigye has been receiving and consuming his meals as usual.
“To the best of my knowledge, Besigye has not refused to eat at any point during his detention,”Baine said.
He however, suggested that if the said hunger strike had indeed begun, it would have been a recent development following visits from his legal team.
“I can assure you that if he started a hunger strike, that would be today after the instigation of maybe his lawyers who visited him yesterday. But to the best of my knowledge, Dr. Kizza Besigye has had all his meals in the past,” Baine stated.
He emphasized that all prisoners in Uganda, including Besigye, are entitled to food, shelter, healthcare, and access to justice.
According to Baine, Uganda Prisons Service currently houses over 79,000 inmates, all of whom are provided with the necessary services, including meals. He dismissed any possibility that the institution would deny any prisoner food.
“Uganda Prisons Service right now has 79,390 prisoners, and they are all entitled to food, shelter, and health. They are also supposed to access justice, and Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye is one of them,” he added.
Baine also condemned attempts by “some politicians to involve Uganda Prisons in political disputes.”
He reaffirmed that the institution operates professionally and remains committed to its mandate.
“Unfortunately, several politicians have wished to drag Uganda Prisons into political games, but we are a professional institution and will continue to do our work,” Baine asserted.
Addressing concerns about Besigye’s health, Baine assured the public that the prison authorities work closely with the politician’s doctors to ensure his well-being.
“Even where Dr. Kizza Besigye’s health becomes a question, we have been working together with his doctor to make sure that we keep him safe,” he noted.
Baine also pointed out that this was not the first time Dr. Besigye was in prison custody.
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He recalled that since 2005, Besigye was incarcerated multiple times, and that each time, the institution had ensured his safety and well-being.
“From 2005 to now, we have had several times with Dr. Kizza Besigye, and every time he is with us, we have to make sure he survives.”
