The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, has said that the jailed veteran opposition politician, Dr. Kizza Besigye, is unable to leave bed unsupported.

Bobi Wine, who on Monday was accompanied by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, and other party officials, visited Luzira prison to check on Besigye, following the worsening of his condition.

However, the prison authorities informed them that Besigye is very weak and unable to meet with them.

The prison authorities also informed them that Besigye is unable to leave bed unsupported.

“We just came from Luzira Upper Prison, where we had gone to check on Dr. Kizza Besigye, Obeid Lutale, Bobi Young, and many other political prisoners; we were not able to see Dr. Kizza Besigye because we were told he is very weak, not able to leave bed unsupported, but we saw Hajj Obeid Lutale; we also saw Bobi Young,” Bobi Wine told reporters after the visit.

Besigye, who was sent to jail by the General Court Martial on charges related to security, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and treachery, started a hunger strike after the government refused to release him from jail following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the trial of civilians in military courts illegal.

Since Wednesday last week, Besigye has been on a hunger strike and is becoming weaker by the day.

On Friday last week, he appeared before Buganda Road Court on a separate case of inciting violence, where he looked weak and frail, struggling to catch his breath.

Despite the inability to see him, Bobi Wine said that Besigye sent them a message to “fight not just for him, but for all political prisoners, especially those that are still incarcerated illegally, those that were sent to prison by the military court.”

“He (Besigye) said, ‘Fight on, don’t give up,’” Bobi Wine said.

Besigye’s condition worsened on Sunday, which compelled the prison authorities to rush him to a private health facility in Bugolobi, Kampala, where he received medical treatment before he was discharged and driven back to prison.

The Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, paid a visit to Besigye in Luzira on Sunday.

Following the visit, Baryomunsi said that Besigye is frail, but added that his condition is not a cause for alarm.

“He is weak but stable. From a medical standpoint, not very worrying, that you would be worried that anything can happen and so forth…… He is under the care of the doctors, including the government doctors who are also there in Luzira,” Baryomunsi said.

He added, “Yes, he is weak because he has not been taking his meals for the last few days, and that is why when he appeared in court, he looked frail and a little bit weak, and that is what scared the public.”

Baryomunsi said that he advised the four-time presidential candidate to resume his meals and await the transfer of his case from the General Court Martial to the civilian court.

“I hope he will take that advice and start taking the meals as the government fast-tracks the issue of his case.”

The Supreme Court ruling that declared the trial of civilians in military court illegal has been interpreted differently.

The defense lawyers said that all prisoners sent to jail by the General Court should be released immediately and even visited Luzira to welcome their clients.

However, the prisons Commissioner General, Johnson Byabashaija, said that he was waiting for guidance from the Attorney General.

The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, on his part, said that he was studying the ruling before he could advise.

However, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao told Parliament that the Supreme Court did not issue release orders, but rather ordered that all cases before the military courts be transferred to civilian courts.

Baryomunsi echoed Mao’s remarks: “There has been a misunderstanding to say that the Supreme Court ordered for his release, no. What the Supreme Court ruled was that all cases of civilians going in the court martial be transferred to civilian courts.”