The wife of Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye has denounced as “cruel and inhumane” the ban on prisoners receiving visitors on Christmas Day.
Besigye, 68, has been accused in a military court of possessing pistols and trying to buy weapons abroad, which he denies. His trial has been delayed until next month.
Prison authorities say that is part of measures to prevent “potential security lapses”, inmates would not be allowed visitors for seven days, starting on Christmas Eve.
Besigye's wife, Winnie Byanyima, head of the UN agency to deal with HIV and Aids, said she planned to camp outside Luzira Prison to see her husband and feed him on Christmas Day.
She told the BBC that her husband is still “strong and persistent” in a “tiny cell” behind six prison gates, but she was worried he might be “damaged”.
“I am not leaving Besigye's food at the gate (as directed). I will go there to see my husband because I do not trust them even for one day,” said Ms Byanyima.
“Maybe I'll take a tent and sleep in it… if that's what they want,” she said.
Besigye has fought and lost four presidential elections against President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
But the former opposition politician has been less active in politics in recent years, and did not oppose the 2021 election.
Besigye, however, returned to the headlines last month after he was famously kidnapped while visiting Kenya and forcibly taken to Uganda.
He was then charged with an accomplice, Obeid Lutale. He, too, has denied the allegations.
The military court extended Besigye's detention until January 7, dashing his family's hopes that he would be home for Christmas.
Uganda Prison Services spokesperson Frank Baine Mayanja told local media that the seven-day ban on visitors was intended to tighten security during the festive season, and prevent escapes.
“Christmas brings joy and most prisoners don't want Christmas inside. They have to plan on how to break the prison and get out,” Mr. Mayanja told NTV Uganda.
The Prison Services had initially announced a ban on prison visits of almost a month, but then reduced the ban to seven days.
Ms Byanyima told the BBC that she was also concerned about the recent leadership change at Luzira prison, questioning why a “young and inexperienced” officer had been put in charge.
“It's very suspicious and makes me question their intentions,” she said.
“I do not trust his (Besigye) life with those who took him away. I will try to see him as often as I can,” said Ms Byanyima.
Mr Mayanja said the changes in leadership were an “administrative matter” and had nothing to do with Besigye.
He said Ms Byanyima should trust the authorities to take care of her husband because “we have the means and means to keep him alive”.
“I think she should let us do our job,” said Mr Mayanja.
This is the second time that Besigye, who has been fighting Museveni's government for the last two decades, is spending the Christmas holidays in prison.
In 2005, he was arrested while returning from a political rally ahead of the 2006 presidential polls and charged with treason. The charges were thrown out by the courts.
He was also accused of rape in a separate case. The charges were later dropped. He said the allegations were all part of a campaign of political persecution
In the latest case, Besigye has opposed being tried by a military court, saying he should be tried in a civilian court if there were any charges against him.
Museveni has defended the use of military courts to try civilians.
He said any gun-related crime was dealt with in a military court to ensure the stability of the country as civilian courts took too long to deal with cases.
Hundreds of civilians have been tried in Uganda's military courts, even though the Constitutional Court has ruled against the practice.
The opposition parties have often complained about restrictions on political activity, claiming that Museveni is afraid of political competition.
Museveni's supporters deny the accusation, and say that he has maintained stability during his almost 40 years.
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