Tayari News
KAMPALA – Uganda Medical Association, a national professional body that brings together medical doctors in Uganda, has made an official inquiry to visit Col (Rtd) Dr Kiiza Besigye at his place of confinement in Luzira Prison.
According to the letter written to the Commissioner General, Uganda Prisons Service, the “association has taken note of recent media reports indicating that Dr Kizza Besigye, who is currently incarcerated at Luzira Prison, is experiencing ill health,” and the Doctors would like to check on him.
“Given our mandate to uphold the welfare, dignity, and professional solidarity of medical practitioners, the leadership of UMA is deeply concerned about his current health status. In this regard, we humbly request your kind permission for a small UMA leadership team to pay a courtesy and welfare visit to Dr Kizza Besigye at Luzira Prison,” said the association President, Dr Frank R. Asiimwe
Dr Asiimwe held that the purpose of the visit is to check on Dr Besigye’s general well-being, offer professional collegial support, and “satisfy ourselves that he is receiving appropriate medical care while in custody.”
“We wish to emphasise that this request is made purely on humanitarian and professional grounds, and the Association remains fully respectful of the laws, regulations, and operational procedures governing the Uganda Prisons Service.” Dr Asiimwe explained, pledging to comply with all guidelines that may be prescribed regarding the visit.
By press time, the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons had not responded to the Doctors’ Association request.
Last week, Dr Besigye, who is a physician and former presidential candidate, was rushed from Luzira to a medical facility in Kampala after his health allegedly deteriorated, attracting attention from family, political commentators, and civil and human rights activists.
The veteran politician has been in jail for more than a year on charges of treason.