Behind bars, Ugandan opposition figure Besigye launches a new political party

In a major political twist ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has confirmed he will not be contesting for any elective position under the newly launched People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).

Instead, he will continue serving as Chair of the Council of Eminent Persons.

Supporters at the event carried a framed portrait of Besigye, who was expected to address the launch of his People’s Front for Freedom, either by video conference or through a written message.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The party of opposition figure Kizza Besigye was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Tuesday, with its jailed leader behind bars for alleged treason.

Supporters at the event carried a framed portrait of Besigye, who was expected to address the launch of his People’s Front for Freedom, either by video conference or through a written message.

Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been jailed since November on charges he plotted to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni.

Prosecutors cite treason, a crime that carries the death penalty in the east African country. They say Besigye solicited military support overseas to destabilize national security. Besigye’s attorneys and followers say the charges are politically motivated, calculated to remove him from political contestation over Uganda’s future after Museveni, who is 80.

Besigye has been repeatedly denied bail even as his attorneys cite his poor health.

Uganda’s next presidential election is set for January 2026.

Museveni, who first took power by force in 1986, has declared his candidacy in a presidential bid that, if successful, would bring him closer to a half-century in power. The opposition figure known as Bobi Wine will also be a candidate, reprising their contest in the 2021 election. It remains unclear if the jailed Besigye will be on the ballot.

Source: Additional reporting by AP