The Silence on Besigye: A Political Calculation in Kigezi
In a strategic move that has sparked debate, President Museveni's silence on the prolonged detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye during his Kigezi campaign tour has raised eyebrows. This deliberate omission, according to analysts, is a calculated political strategy rather than an oversight.
The detention of Dr. Besigye and his political aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, has now spanned a year since their abduction in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, and subsequent transfer to Kampala. The anticipation was high that this issue would come to the forefront during the President's campaign tour of the Kigezi sub-region, where Besigye's influence and support are deeply rooted.
However, President Museveni's silence on the matter throughout his engagements in Kigezi has been interpreted as a calculated move to avoid potential backlash in Besigye's home region and to mask the absence of a credible explanation. This silence, according to retired cleric and political observer Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda, is entirely political.
Fr. Batanyenda argues that the President's deliberate avoidance of the topic stems from his understanding of Besigye's influence and the sensitivity of the issue in Kigezi. He states, 'It cannot be any other silence; it is political completely and there is nothing else.'
Dr. Nicholas Kamara, vice president of the western region chapter of the People's Front for Freedom, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that the President's silence reflects a lack of proper justification for Besigye's continued detention. This interpretation is further supported by political analyst John Paul Kasujja, who criticizes the silence as a strategic move to avoid triggering dissent in Besigye's ancestral region.
Kasujja notes that the President's focus on securing electoral advantages during the tour may have influenced his decision to avoid mentioning Besigye, as doing so could have potentially caused trouble in Kigezi, where Besigye enjoys strong emotional support.
