Dr Besigye said Mr Museveni shows prejudice when he speaks about issues that are already in court
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) former presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, has challenged President Museveni to report allegations that he and Gen David Sejusa were planning to kill him or destabilise Uganda, to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Speaking to a team of 14 FDC supporters and leaders from Kabarole District who visited him at Luzira prison on Friday afternoon, Dr Besigye said Mr Museveni shows prejudice when he speaks about issues that are already in court.
“Mr Museveni should not talk about cases that are already before court. He is breaking the law because treason case is already in court,” Dr Besigye said. “If he has a complaint, he should present it before the Director of Public Prosecutions for investigations. It’s only the Director of Public Prosecutions who can say that I have a case to answer.”
Mr Museveni, earlier this week while meeting Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) officials, allegedly said Dr Besigye and Gen Sejusa wanted to destabilise Uganda. He also reportedly claimed jailed Nakawa MP Michael Kabaziguruka was behind schemes to assassinate him.
Dressed in yellow prison uniform and blue slippers, Dr Besigye boastfully said he is “spiritually strong, emotionally strong and physically fit.”
An ecstatic Besigye said yellow uniform is for prisoners in Uganda whether you meet them inside or outside prison.
The group went through a weary five hour process before meeting the four time presidential candidate at around 2pm. For instance, from Luzira prison main gate to Upper Prison where Besigye is detained, the team was checked five times at different checkpoints. At the first gate, Mr Kyensi Buruhani, an executive member of FDC Kabarole District committee, who was donning an FDC shirt, was forced to remove it.
Dr Besigye said Nakawa court Chief Magistrate James Ereemye Mawanda, who visited Luzira on Thursday, did not address his complaints.
Mr Ereemye visited the prison accompanied by the Nakawa court state attorney Doreen Elima and the Judiciary’s communication officer Solomon Muyita.
“The magistrate didn’t make any decision about my complaint. He promised to compile a report which he will hand over to higher authorities,” Dr Besigye revealed, adding that he will present his complaints in court again next time, specifically denying him a chance to communicate with the outside world.
Dr Besigye has repeatedly complained to court that his life is under threat. He told Nakawa Magistrate’s Court on June 29 that his rights as prisoner were being abused, prompting the magistrate to promise that he would visit Luzira to address “those issues.”
Dr Besigye said he is optimistic that court will grant him bail since it is not the first time he is being charged with treason.
“I was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday for my bail application hearing but it was Idd. I will go there on Monday,” he said. “They have charged me with 50 or 80 cases and all of them were dismissed. Even this one, they will drop these charges,” he said.
Earlier this month, the DPP withdrew a case in which Dr Besigye had been charged with disobeying lawful orders at Kasangati court.
However, Dr Besigye said whether court grants him bail or not, he will be released because treason charges will be dropped. He said the DPP should expedite investigation process.
“They say I declared myself president; how long does it take to investigate that case and present evidence?” he asked. “I have spent two months in prison and they haven’t presented evidence.”
Besigye described his court battles as “persecution not prosecution.”
Kabarole District FDC chairperson Rusoke Nyakato Abooki, who led the delegation, said the process of accessing Besigye is tiresome.
“Clearing from the first to the last gate took us almost three hours,” she said.
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