Winnie Byanyima has urged the government to urgently release her husband, Dr Kizza Besigye, on bail to enable him to access specialised medical treatment in Geneva, Switzerland.Speaking to journalists at their home in Kasangati, Wakiso district, Byanyima said Besigye needs urgent specialised care that, in her view, can only be obtained outside Uganda.Byanyima, who recently visited Besigye at Luzira prison, said he remains very weak and can hardly feed himself or perform basic personal tasks to the extent that prison authorities have since allowed relatives to assist him as he recovers.“He is a sick man; he is a father, a brother, a spouse to me, a citizen of Uganda; he has a right to health and to recover. Release Dr Besigye and allow me to take him to Geneva for treatment. When he has recovered, he will return and face the case against him. Dr Besigye has never run away from anything,” Byanyima said.Besigye, who has been in prison since November 2024 facing charges of treason and misprision of treason, collapsed at the High court in Kampala about two weeks ago.The former presidential candidate had spent several minutes protesting what he described as unconstitutional conduct by the presiding judge, Emmanuel Baguma, before he collapsed.He was evacuated from court and taken back to Luzira Prison. Later that night, he was transferred to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) General Court Martial hospital in Mbuya before being referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further treatment.He has since been returned to Luzira Prison, where he is receiving treatment. Byanyima said her call for Besigye’s release should not be interpreted as a demand for special treatment, but as a call for the enforcement of his rights.“I have visited him at Luzira, where he is being treated. But he is surrounded by army men both inside and outside the room. There are also other prisoners putting on the yellow uniform surrounding him. But I think they are also military men disguising as prisoners,” Byanyima said.“But this is not a court case; this is a military operation. I want Ugandans to understand that what happened did not begin with this case. It began 25 years ago when Dr Besigye sought to challenge Museveni. Museveni said, ‘You are a traitor, and I will put you six feet under.’”Lukwago appealByanyima also called for the release of Erias Lukwago, the former Lord Mayor of Kampala, who was arrested on June 13 and charged with misprision of treason.She said there should be no “illusions” about the reasons behind Lukwago’s arrest.“I’m very concerned about Erias Lukwago; he is unwell, and they know it. Denying him bail was cruel and illegal. His only crime was because he represented Besigye in court… This is not how democracy works. It is all about dismantling any credible group that opposes Museveni so that he can install his son after him. If this is how Besigye and Lukwago can be treated, where does it leave Ugandans who have no voice?” Byanyima said.Byanyima also criticised Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi over his recent explanation for Besigye’s return to Luzira Prison. Baryomunsi had said Besigye’s condition was no longer a cause for concern.Byanyima, however, dismissed the minister’s assessment, saying his assertions were not supported by facts about Besigye’s current health condition.The post Byanyima presses gov’t to free Besigye for medical treatment in Geneva appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.