Efforts to Remove Museveni From Power Takes an Ugly Twist as Besigye Detention Derail Plans

Efforts to unseat Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the 2026 elections have hit a setback following the continued detention of veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.

His incarceration is disrupting the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party’s preparations for the polls, raising concerns about political interference.

Besigye’s lawyer, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, admitted that his client’s detention has significantly affected the opposition’s ability to strategize for the upcoming elections.

With Uganda’s general election scheduled for January 2026, Lukwago noted that the party is struggling to organize campaigns and mobilize supporters.

Besigye, a longtime critic of Museveni, has been arrested multiple times over the years while pushing for political reforms. His latest detention is seen as a major blow to opposition efforts to challenge Museveni’s extended rule.

The opposition has accused the government of using arrests and intimidation to weaken alternative voices ahead of the elections. However, authorities insist that Besigye’s detention is lawful.

As the political landscape in Uganda remains tense, opposition leaders are calling for his immediate release, arguing that his continued incarceration undermines democracy and the electoral process.