A nation is judged not only by how it treats its loyal supporters, but more importantly by how it treats those with whom it disagrees. The continued concerns surrounding the detention, health, and legal proceedings involving Dr. Kizza Besigye have raised profound questions about Uganda’s commitment to justice, the rule of law, and the values upon which the National Resistance struggle was founded.
Regardless of political differences, every Ugandan is entitled to the constitutional right to a fair and timely trial, humane treatment, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court of law. These are not privileges reserved for a few; they are fundamental rights that define a democratic society.
Dr. Besigye is not an ordinary figure in Uganda’s history. Before becoming one of the country’s most prominent opposition leaders, he was among the medical professionals who served the National Resistance Army (NRA) during the liberation struggle. Many veterans of that war remember him as a dedicated medical officer who risked his own life to save wounded fighters under extremely difficult conditions. His contribution, they say, went far beyond providing treatment—he trained fellow fighters in basic first aid and helped establish emergency medical care within the guerrilla ranks.
Many veterans have publicly expressed the view that numerous commanders who later became senior military and political leaders survived because of the medical care they received from Dr. Besigye and his team during the bush war. Among those frequently mentioned by former fighters are President Yoweri Museveni, General Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), General Elly Tumwine (now deceased), Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Brig. Gen. Kabuye, and many others who sustained injuries during the struggle.
Former combatants also recall the difficult years of the early 1980s when disease, shortages, and internal challenges threatened the survival of the NRA. They remember outbreaks of illness that endangered many fighters and credit Dr. Besigye with helping organize medical responses that saved numerous lives. Whether treating battle wounds, combating disease, or caring for exhausted combatants, his service formed part of the foundation upon which today’s Uganda was built.
History also records that the liberation struggle faced moments of severe internal tension that required wisdom, restraint, and reconciliation. The movement survived not simply because of military victories, but because leaders chose dialogue over division during periods of crisis. Those lessons remain relevant today.
It is therefore difficult for many Ugandans, particularly veterans of the liberation struggle, to reconcile Dr. Besigye’s historic contribution with the manner in which they believe he has been treated in recent years. Whether one supports his political views or not should never determine whether he enjoys his constitutional rights. Justice must be impartial. The law must apply equally to both those in government and those in opposition.
Your Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, history presents every leader with defining moments. This is one of them.
During the liberation struggle, you repeatedly demonstrated the ability to unite divided fighters and to persuade those who had lost hope to remain committed to a common cause. Many veterans remember your leadership during difficult periods when cohesion within the movement was under immense strain. That spirit of reconciliation and statesmanship is what many Ugandans now hope to see once again.
The handling of Dr. Besigye’s case should inspire confidence among Ugandans and the international community that justice in Uganda remains independent, transparent, and above political considerations. A process perceived as fair strengthens national unity; one perceived as selective weakens public trust in institutions.
Many veterans who sacrificed their youth, families, and livelihoods during the liberation struggle did so believing they were fighting to establish a Uganda founded on justice, equality, human dignity, and respect for the rule of law. They did not endure hardship merely to replace one form of injustice with another.
This is therefore an appeal—not for special treatment, but for equal treatment under the law.
Allow Dr. Besigye to enjoy the full protections guaranteed by the Constitution of Uganda. Ensure that his legal proceedings are conducted fairly, transparently, and without unnecessary delay. Guarantee him access to appropriate medical care whenever required. Let justice be seen to prevail.
History has a long memory. Future generations will judge today’s leaders not by the power they exercised, but by the fairness, compassion, and wisdom with which they exercised it.
A nation becomes stronger when it honours those who contributed to its founding, even when they later become political opponents. Reconciliation is never a sign of weakness; it is one of the highest expressions of confident leadership.
Uganda deserves justice. Uganda deserves unity. And every Ugandan—regardless of political affiliation—deserves the protection of the law and the dignity that comes with being human.
