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In a dramatic turn in Uganda’s political landscape, opposition leader Kizza Besigye has launched a new political party from prison, where he is being held on treason charges. The party, named the People’s Front for Freedom, was officially introduced in the capital, Kampala, on Tuesday, despite Besigye’s incarceration.
Supporters at the launch event displayed a framed image of Besigye, who was anticipated to address the gathering either via video link or a written statement. A seasoned opposition figure and four-time presidential candidate, Besigye has been in detention since November. Prosecutors accuse him of conspiring to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government, alleging that he sought military backing from abroad to destabilize national security—a charge that carries the death penalty in Uganda.
Besigye’s legal team and political allies maintain that the accusations are politically driven, aimed at eliminating him from the race to shape Uganda’s post-Museveni future. They highlight his declining health and the repeated denial of bail as further evidence of targeted persecution.
The next presidential election is scheduled for January 2026, with Museveni—who came to power through armed struggle in 1986—already confirmed as a candidate. If successful, his presidency would edge closer to 50 years in power. Bobi Wine, another prominent opposition leader, is also set to run again, continuing his rivalry with Museveni from the 2021 election. Whether Besigye will appear on the ballot remains uncertain.
Ibrahim Ssemujju, a Member of Parliament and spokesperson for the newly formed party, claimed on the eve of the launch that Besigye was imprisoned without legitimate cause. He alleged that Museveni and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba—Uganda’s army chief—take satisfaction in Besigye’s imprisonment. Kainerugaba has accused Besigye of plotting to assassinate his father and once said he deserved to be executed. The general’s repeated expressions of interest in succeeding Museveni have raised concerns about a potential dynastic transition of power.
Museveni, responding to the allegations, has insisted that Besigye must face justice for the “serious offenses” he is accused of, and has called for an expedited trial to reveal the facts.
As a former military officer and Museveni’s one-time personal physician, Besigye previously led the Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda’s leading opposition party for many years. His ongoing struggle underscores the broader tensions surrounding Uganda’s political succession, which remains deeply uncertain. Since gaining independence over 60 years ago, Uganda has yet to experience a peaceful presidential handover.
Source:The Black Examiner