Dr. Kizza Besigye Sends Easter Message from Luzira Prison Amid Treason Charges

Luzira, Uganda – April 18, 2025 — Veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has extended Easter greetings to Ugandans from Luzira Upper Prison, where he has been held on remand for over five months on charges of treason and misprision of treason.

In a handwritten letter dated April 17, 2025, Dr. Besigye expressed gratitude to his supporters for their moral, material, and spiritual support throughout his incarceration. He reflected on the significance of Easter, describing it as a season of peace, spiritual renewal, and reflection, even in the face of adversity.

“As we celebrate Easter, we are at peace, in spite of the imprisonment, by the Grace of the Lord,” Dr. Besigye wrote. He described prison as a space for meditation and learning, drawing strength from his faith and the season’s deeper meaning. He cited 2 Timothy 4:3-4, which warns against abandoning sound doctrine in favor of comforting falsehoods—a message he used to urge Ugandans to remain steadfast in truth despite rising misinformation.

The Easter message comes amid ongoing legal proceedings that have seen Dr. Besigye and his political aide, Obeid Lutaale, denied bail, despite fulfilling all legal requirements. Presiding Judge Rosette Comfort Kania ruled that the gravity of the alleged offenses—considered among the most serious in Ugandan law—warrants their continued detention. They are accused, alongside UPDF officer Captain Denis Oola, of conspiring in multiple international cities to solicit arms and support to allegedly overthrow the Ugandan government.

This marks the third consecutive festive season that Dr. Besigye has spent behind bars, including Christmas 2024, when his charges were escalated and transferred from military to civilian courts. His lawyers, led by prominent human rights attorney Erias Lukwago, have condemned the prolonged detention as politically motivated and deeply distressing.

“It’s quite distressing given his stature as a statesman and senior citizen of advanced age,” Lukwago stated. “We at the Katonga Liberation Command Centre and all peace-loving Ugandans do miss his visionary leadership, wise counsel, and guidance.”

Dr. Besigye’s political journey has been marked by resilience and defiance. In 2005, shortly after returning from exile in South Africa and launching his presidential bid against President Yoweri Museveni, he was similarly detained on treason and rape charges, sparking national and international outcry.

Besigye, a former physician to President Museveni and founding leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has remained a central figure in Uganda’s opposition politics for over two decades.

He, Lutaale, and Captain Oola remain on remand until April 30, 2025, as investigations continue. Despite the circumstances, Besigye’s Easter message underscores a tone of hope, spiritual endurance, and unwavering commitment to his cause.