The government has poured cold water on Winnie Byanyima’s claim that she was deliberately sidelined when Dr. Kizza Besigye was secretly taken for medical treatment. ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi says Byanyima is not listed as Besigye’s next of kin, and therefore prison authorities were under no obligation to notify her. “The three names Dr. Besigye […]
The government has poured cold water on Winnie Byanyima’s claim that she was deliberately sidelined when Dr. Kizza Besigye was secretly taken for medical treatment.
ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi says Byanyima is not listed as Besigye’s next of kin, and therefore prison authorities were under no obligation to notify her.
“The three names Dr. Besigye provided as next of kin do not include his wife,” Baryomunsi revealed.
This directly contradicts Byanyima’s emotional account last week, where she said she was shocked to discover her husband had been taken to a private clinic without her knowledge.
Byanyima added that she was not notified by the prison authorities about the transfer, despite being Besigye’s next of kin. She said she only learned about it and rushed to the clinic, where doctors had already carried out tests and begun treatment.
“I was not notified. I am his next of kin,” Byanyima said
She described the episode as “sinister” and “an outrage.”
Baryomunsi insisted prison authorities acted correctly.
“When he was admitted to prison, Dr. Besigye provided a list of people to be contacted. Prison authorities followed that list,” he said.
The minister dismissed suggestions of foul play. “There was no plot. Procedures were followed,” he said.
The next-of-kin dispute has now added a new layer of controversy to Besigye’s detention, with sharply divided versions from government and family over who speaks and decides for the opposition leader.
