Ugandans are demanding answers from Dr. Winnie Byanyima, wife of jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, as she continues to rally citizens to protest his detention. But a pressing question remains—if the fight for democracy is so urgent, why hasn’t her son, Anselm Besigye, flown in to join the struggle?
A one Peace Atukunda said: “While Byanyima calls for Ugandans to take to the streets, her own family remains far from the chaos. The innocent Ugandans she is sending out to face bullets and tear gas have no blood relation to her husband like Anselm does. Why must ordinary citizens bear the risks while her son enjoys a life of safety abroad?”
The political storm intensifies as Besigye and his ally, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, are set to appear before the High Court in Kampala today, February 19, 2025. They face serious charges, including security-related offenses, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and treachery.
Besigye’s family has raised alarm over his deteriorating health, stating that Luzira Prison authorities have unexpectedly requested his personal doctor to visit him. The family fears that this unusual request signals a serious decline in his condition.
As protests brew, Ugandans are now questioning whether they are being used as political pawns. “If Byanyima truly believes in this fight, why isn’t her son at the frontline? If the struggle is genuine, why does her family continue to benefit from government appointments, including her own role as Executive Director of UNAIDS, a position she secured in 2019 with the backing of President Museveni?,” one tweep who has been attributed as a regime apologist wondered.
He addeD: “For years, opposition figures have called for change, yet the cycle of deception continues. Ugandans have lost their lives in political protests while the elite remain untouched. In Luganda, we say: “Nanyini muffu, yakwata awawunya”—the true owner of a cause must carry its burden.”
Ugandans are waking up, refusing to be sacrificed for the interests of political families who live in comfort while they suffer.
