Winnie Byanyima, the wife of veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, recently visited her husband in prison to mark his 70th birthday.
Dr Besigye, a long-time critic of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, turned 70 on April 22, 2026. He is currently being held at Luzira Prison, where he has been detained since November 2024.
His arrest followed an operation by the Uganda army, and he now faces treason charges alongside his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya and Capt Denis Oola.
This is the second birthday Dr Besigye has celebrated while in detention. The first was in 2025, making this a painful but familiar routine for his family.
Despite the circumstances, Winnie Byanyima has continued to stand by her husband, visiting him regularly and showing support during difficult moments such as his birthday.
Speaking to the press after the visit, Byanyima thanked supporters who have stood with her husband throughout his detention.
She said the struggle is not just personal but involves many Ugandans who believe in justice and fairness.
“Thanks to all the fans, friends, lawyers, and family for supporting Dr Kizza Besigye. This journey has not been about me as the wife, but about all those concerned,” she said.
Byanyima also expressed concern about the reasons behind her husband’s continued detention.
She claimed that the situation has gone beyond a legal matter and has become a political issue involving the interests of President Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
She called on Ugandans to speak out against what she described as injustice and urged citizens to push for change in the country’s leadership.