Supporters Pray for Jailed Ugandan Opposition Leader Despite Postponement
Hundreds of supporters of detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye gathered inside Lubaga Cathedral in Kampala for a prayer service calling for his release, despite efforts to postpone the event. The gathering took place after President Yoweri Museveni reportedly requested that the planned Mass be delayed amid concerns it could take on a political character.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kampala had been expected to preside over the service, but church officials informed attendees that the event had been postponed due to ongoing discussions aimed at ensuring harmony. Father Pius Male, chancellor of the archdiocese, confirmed that the archbishop sought a delay but did not provide further details.
Rather than disperse, those present remained inside the cathedral, singing hymns and praying for Besigye’s health and freedom. The prayers were led by Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS and Besigye’s wife. Addressing the crowd, she said that although the formal Mass could not proceed as planned, the faithful had gathered to pray and would continue to do so peacefully.
Besigye, 69, has been held for more than a year without a full trial on treason charges. He has appeared in court on several occasions, sometimes in a wheelchair, raising concerns among supporters about his health. Requests for bail have been repeatedly denied. His trial has yet to formally begin.
Ugandan authorities accuse Besigye, a four time presidential candidate, of plotting to remove President Museveni by force. The charges carry the possibility of the death penalty. Museveni has publicly stated that Besigye must answer for what he described as serious offenses and has called for a swift trial so that the facts can be established in court.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly after Besigye disappeared in Nairobi in November 2024 and was later presented before a military tribunal in Kampala. The case was subsequently transferred to a civilian court and amended to treason charges. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s top military commander and Museveni’s son, has publicly accused Besigye of plotting violence and recently referred to him in stark terms.
Besigye was once a close ally of Museveni during the guerrilla struggle that brought the president to power in 1986. He later became one of his most prominent critics, arguing that Uganda’s democratic promise had eroded over time. Constitutional term and age limits for the presidency have since been removed, allowing Museveni to secure another term in the most recent election.
The prayer gathering at Lubaga Cathedral highlighted the delicate balance between religious expression and political tension in Uganda. Church leaders sought to maintain a spirit of unity, while supporters framed their presence as an appeal for compassion and due process for a figure who remains a central and controversial presence in the nation’s political life.
