Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye has begun a hunger strike as he nears three months in detention while awaiting trial.
The 68-year-old, charged in a military court with possession of pistols and attempting to buy weapons abroad, denies all allegations.
An aide from his political movement, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), told the BBC that Besigye’s protest highlights his belief that he should not still be in prison. His trial, initially postponed until January, now has an uncertain start date.
Besigye, a former personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni, has contested and lost four presidential elections.
He has long accused the Ugandan authorities of political persecution, facing multiple arrests over the years.
His latest detention followed a dramatic abduction in Kenya, where he was forcibly returned to Uganda, sparking widespread condemnation. He was charged alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, who also denied the charges.
A recent Supreme Court ruling deemed military trials for civilians unconstitutional, but President Museveni dismissed it as “a wrong decision” and vowed to challenge it. Museveni has defended military trials for gun-related offenses, arguing that civilian courts take too long.
Opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling political competition, while Museveni’s supporters argue he has ensured stability throughout his nearly 40-year rule.
