Dr Kizza Besigye
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Intervention from high level government officials, Habari Daily can reveal, will soon lead to the release of jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, as negotiations led by Gen Salim Saleh have reached advanced stages.
Gen Saleh, the national coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and a senior presidential adviser, is leading discussions involving political figures, religious leaders and senior citizens in an effort to find a way of securing Besigye’s release.
The talks, which reportedly began last week, bring together representatives of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
An additional committee of eminent persons is expected to support Gen Saleh in handling the negotiations, while the opposition has assembled its own team to engage the government side.
IPOD Also Involved
FDC deputy spokesperson Walid Mulindwa has confirmed that discussions on Besigye’s release are underway, although he said no final terms or timeline had been agreed upon.
According to Mulindwa, leaders of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) have also discussed the matter, with the issue expected to feature on the agenda of the organisation’s summit.
The involvement of IPOD adds a broader political dimension to the negotiations, bringing together party leaders at a time when efforts are being made to resolve the matter outside the courtroom.
However, the talks have also exposed differences within the opposition camp.
The Weekend Vision reported that some senior PFF figures believe the courts should determine Besigye’s fate, while others favour political engagement as a possible avenue for securing his release.
This division could become significant as negotiators attempt to establish terms acceptable to both the government and opposition sides.
Muhoozi Pointed to Saleh
The current negotiations follow remarks made by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on August 25, when he publicly linked Besigye’s fate to Gen Saleh.
“Dr KB will be handled by Afande Saleh. If he wants forgiveness, he should talk to Afande Saleh,” Kainerugaba said, adding that President Yoweri Museveni had given Gen Saleh authority to handle the matter.
The remarks effectively placed Gen Saleh at the centre of discussions over the opposition leader’s future, although the precise legal or political mechanism through which a release could be secured has not been publicly disclosed.
The reported negotiations now represent a significant development in a case that has remained before the courts for nearly two years.
Besigye Trial Continues
Besigye has been in custody since his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, and subsequent transfer to Uganda.
He is facing treason charges alongside his aide Obeid Lutale and UPDF Capt Denis Oola. The State alleges that the accused participated in meetings in Uganda and abroad as part of a plan to overthrow the government by force. The accused have denied the allegations.
Their trial before High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma remains at the prosecution stage.
The first prosecution witness, Andrew Wilson, also known as Orlando, completed his testimony on September 17 after several weeks of evidence and cross-examination. His evidence included secretly recorded conversations that prosecutors say support their case, while the defence challenged his accounts and the handling of the recordings.
The trial was subsequently adjourned on September 23 after State lawyers failed to appear at the agreed time. The hearing was scheduled to resume on October 5.
Release Terms Unclear
Despite the reported progress in the negotiations, neither the government nor opposition representatives have publicly disclosed the conditions being discussed.
The talks therefore come at a delicate point, with the judicial process continuing alongside a parallel political engagement aimed at finding a possible settlement.
For now, Gen Saleh remains the key figure in the reported negotiations, backed by a team of eminent persons and engaged with representatives from government, opposition parties, religious groups and other influential Ugandans.
If the talks succeed, they could provide a political route towards resolving Besigye’s prolonged detention while his treason case remains before the High Court.
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