President Yoweri Museveni reportedly considered releasing opposition figure Kizza Besigye amid growing international scrutiny of his prolonged detention, before abandoning the plan over concerns tied to political optics and a deteriorating health situation, according to a source familiar with internal discussions.
The account suggests that rising international attention on the case had become politically uncomfortable for the Ugandan leader, especially as criticism intensified from rights observers and regional legal actors.
The presence and involvement of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua in aspects of the legal debate is said to have further heightened sensitivities within the State House.
According to the source, Museveni initially explored the possibility of releasing Besigye as a way of de-escalating pressure.
However, the plan reportedly came with strict political conditions aimed at managing the narrative around the opposition figure’s release, including ensuring that it would not be attributed to external legal or political advocacy.
The situation reportedly shifted after Besigye’s health deteriorated, with officials later informed that the decline was linked to a hunger strike.
That development is said to have altered internal calculations, with the presidency concluding that an immediate release could be interpreted as a direct response to protest action, potentially encouraging similar tactics from other detainees.
“Once it became clear the deterioration was connected to a hunger strike, the idea was dropped,” the source indicated, adding that the president instead opted for a procedural legal route.
Following the change in direction, the file was reportedly redirected to the High Court of Uganda.
The move aligned with long-standing demands from Besigye’s legal team, who have repeatedly argued that the matter should be handled through formal judicial review rather than prolonged administrative detention.
The developments highlight the complex intersection of legal process, health concerns, and political messaging surrounding one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures.
While government officials have consistently defended the handling of the case as lawful, opposition-aligned voices maintain that the prolonged detention reflects deeper political tensions.