Besigye Too Ill to Even Talk — His Lawyer Eron Kiiza Dismisses Negotiation Reports.

Earlier this month, Uganda’s state-owned media outlets, New Vision and Bukedde, published reports suggesting that General Salim Saleh, President Yoweri Museveni’s brother, would chair negotiations between the government and incarcerated opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, with the alleged objective of securing Besigye’s release. However, those report were quickly challenged. People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) Secretary General Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda dismissed the claims, saying there was no evidence of such negotiations. Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, also denied that any negotiations were taking place. So, what is really happening behind the scenes? I got on a call with Eron Kiiza, one of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s lawyers, to establish the facts. Kiiza told me that no such negotiations are taking place. He explained that Besigye is seriously ill and unable to engage in discussions. More importantly, according to Kiiza, even if Besigye were in a position to talk, he would not negotiate or bargain with the Museveni government for his freedom. Kiiza further argued that the government is now looking for a way to release Besigye following legal challenges to the treason case brought against him. Is the reported negotiation process a fabrication, or is the government looking for a way out of a case that has become increasingly difficult to sustain? Here is my conversation with Eron Kiiza, Dr. Kizza Besigye’s lawyer, as he explains what is happening and why, according to him, there are no negotiations over Besigye’s freedom.