"Kizza Besigye Should Be Tried or Set Free" Gen Otafiire Boldly Tells Off The NRM Gov't

Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, has openly criticized the government for holding opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye without trial. Speaking at the Sam Kalega Njuba Memorial Lecture in Kampala on Thursday, Otafiire said it is unacceptable for any citizen to remain in detention without being formally charged.

He urged the government to either take Besigye to court or release him immediately, stressing that keeping someone imprisoned for months without explanation undermines the rule of law. Besigye has been detained for over eight months without facing any formal charges, raising concerns both inside Uganda and internationally.

Otafiire, a senior figure in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), said even if Besigye had committed a crime, it was the government’s duty to prove it in court. Until this happens, he insisted, the public would continue to view Besigye as innocent.

The minister acknowledged that his remarks might not sit well with all political allies, but he emphasized that speaking the truth is more important than political loyalty. He warned that ignoring the law could push Uganda back into political repression and conflict.

Reflecting on Uganda’s history, Otafiire recalled the brutality of the Amin regime. He told the audience of a man who had been publicly pardoned by Amin, only to be found dead near the president’s residence days later. He said such lawlessness had driven him and others to fight against tyranny.

He criticized the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for failing to explain why Besigye remained in detention. “If the state cannot justify the crime, it has no right to imprison someone,” he said. Besigye, a long-time critic of the government and four-time presidential candidate, has faced multiple arrests over the years, becoming a symbol of opposition in Uganda.

Otafiire likened Uganda to a vehicle veering off course, saying it is the responsibility of leaders to correct its direction before it crashes. He called for dialogue between political parties and warned that civil war leaves no winners, only survivors.

Highlighting his military experience, he said the best generals avoid war by resolving issues through fairness and negotiation, not force. He recalled that Uganda still pays debts for weapons bought during Amin’s era, which were later turned against its own people.

Otafiire stressed that dissent should not be treated as a crime and that justice is a right for every citizen. He encouraged leaders from both the NRM and the opposition to listen to differing opinions, even when uncomfortable, and to ensure that all protests are addressed within a fair legal framework.

In closing, Otafiire warned that Besigye’s detention is about more than one man’s freedom—it affects the credibility of Uganda’s entire justice system. He said violating the law threatens the very foundations of the nation, and urged that due process and fairness must always guide the government’s actions.

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