The government has rubbished claims that opposition icon Dr. Kizza Besigye is being mistreated in Luzira Prison, slamming them as “social media propaganda.”
Besigye, who was arrested late last year in Kenya, faces charges related to being in possession of firearms, threatening security and treachery before the General Court-Martial. He is being charged along side co-accused Obeid Lutale and Captain Omalla Dennis.
The high profile case has been at the center of heated debates, with accusations flying that he’s being starved and denied access to family and doctors while in jail, to the extent that he went on a hunger strike in fear of being poisoned.
Clarifying to journalist at the Uganda Media Center on Tuesday, the ICT minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi addressed what he termed as speculations circulating the social media airwaves, debates on the floor of Parliament and allegations from Besigye’s lawyer, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
The Minister argued: “Dr. Besigye is not starving. What I can confirm is that he requested the prison authorities to allow him to name three members of his family who should be authorized to bring him food. And also his co-chosen did the same and were allowed to name three members of their families or three people they trust that can bring them food in prison. And indeed the prison authorities agreed. A total of six, who are authorized to bring them food and they have been bringing the food.”
He further challenged journalists to visit Luzira prison and confirm his clarification: ” And this is for his own security because you can’t, for instance, allow anybody and everybody to just bring him food. And you journalists, you can confirm, you can call the Commissioner General of Prison Services or even visit the Luzira to confirm this. So what was being raised in the parliament and the speculations and the talk is not true.”
Furthermore, rumors that Besigye is being denied medical care were also dismissed. Baryomunsi revealed that he has access to both his personal doctors and the well-equipped health facilities within Luzira Prison.
“Besigye also able to access his doctors, his personal doctors, and also he’s happy with the services of the doctors, the medical services in the prison services, in the prison there. Because we have a well-established medical service within the prison facilities and he has no issue, he has no problem with the doctors and the health workers within the prison services.” he added
Baryomunsi also proposed that Besigye can be entitled to bail as it is a right.
“And, of course, the granting of bail is a discretion of the judicial officers residing over the case.
And, in my honest view, if you ask me, he should be granted bail and then the case is handled as it comes from home because bail is a right like any other prisoner.” he said
The storm of allegations, including claims raised in Parliament, has been labeled as “baseless noise” aimed at tarnishing the government’s image.
“So all this talk about him being starved by government or denied food or denied access to relatives, denied access to his doctors is all hogwash. It’s just for propaganda value.” he asserted
