Winnie Byanyima, the wife of jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and Executive Director of the UN’s HIV/AIDS programme, has said that her husband’s health has improved. Byanyima stated that she was relieved to see him walking on his own and talking to his visitors.
“I visited Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale at Luzira Prison today. Both were in good spirits. I was relieved to see Besigye able to walk and talk with his visitors,” Byanyima said.
During his last two court appearances, Besigye was visibly fragile, as he was sometimes wheeled into the courtroom or aided while walking and could not stand in the dock.
Last week, the lawyers representing Besigye and Obeid Lutale applied for bail in the High Court, arguing that they are law-abiding citizens of advanced age facing bailable charges of treason and misprision.
In their joint application, Besigye and Lutale assert that they have permanent places of residence and pose no threat to any investigative or judicial process. They pledge to appear before the court as required once granted bail.
According to their lawyers, Besigye and Lutale’s legal history demonstrates their respect for the rule of law, as they have consistently adhered to bail conditions in the past.
Besigye and Lutale have spent over 100 days in remand without any indication of when investigations will conclude or when their trial will commence. The High Court has yet to set a date for the bail hearing.
Byanyima believes that Besigye deserves to be granted bail.
“After 20 years of faithfully appearing in court for countless criminal charges, there is NO reason to deny Besigye bail. A judge must hear his application & end this injustice. Enough is enough!” she said.
