Kampala, Uganda, July 8 (AP) — A new political party, the People's Front for Freedom, has been launched in Uganda's capital, Kampala, despite its leader Kizza Besigye being imprisoned on charges of treason.
Supporters of the party carried a framed portrait of Besigye at the launch event, hoping he would address them through a video conference or a written message.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been in jail since November, accused of plotting to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni's government.
Prosecutors in Uganda have charged him with treason, which carries a death penalty in the country.
They allege that Besigye solicited military support from overseas to destabilize Uganda's national security.
However, his attorneys and supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated, aimed at eliminating him from the political landscape in preparation for a future without Museveni, who is 80 years old.
Efforts to secure bail for Besigye have been denied, despite his lawyers citing his health issues.
Uganda's next presidential election is scheduled for January 2026.
Museveni, who came to power in 1986 through military force, has announced his candidacy for the upcoming election.
His long-time rival, Bobi Wine, is also expected to run, echoing their rivalry in the 2021 elections.
It remains uncertain if Besigye, currently jailed, will feature on the ballot.
Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju, a spokesperson for the People's Front for Freedom, stated that Besigye's imprisonment serves Museveni and his son more as a personal victory than justice.
“I think they may even throw a party to celebrate,” he speculated.
“But Dr. Besigye will speak to us as our leader, the leader of our party and our struggles,” he added.
Museveni's son, army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has accused Besigye of plotting to assassinate his father, and once called for Besigye to be hanged.
Kainerugaba has indicated his desire to succeed his father as president, raising concerns about potential hereditary succession in Uganda.
Museveni has emphasized that Besigye must be held accountable for the "very serious offenses he is alleged to have been planning" and has called for “a quick trial so that facts come out.”
The political future of Uganda appears unpredictable, with no clear successor within Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement party.
The military and intelligence services hold significant power in the current regime.
Besigye, a former military officer who retired with the rank of colonel, previously led the Forum for Democratic Change, a major opposition party in Uganda.
He has long criticized Museveni, despite having once been his military assistant and personal physician.
Uganda has never experienced a peaceful transition of presidential power since gaining independence six decades ago.
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