"Museveni Will Have the Last Laugh" – Andrew Mwenda Warns Dr. Besigye Could Face Death Sentence

Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda has issued a grim prediction regarding opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye’s ongoing treason trial, warning that the case could end with a death sentence, leaving Besigye at the mercy of President Yoweri Museveni.

In an article published in The Independent, Mwenda criticized Besigye’s political and military strategies, arguing that his miscalculations had placed him in a vulnerable position.

“I have always felt that as a soldier, Besigye is a very poor politician, and as a politician, an equally poor soldier. This is in large part because he has a very poor conception of strategy,” Mwenda wrote.

Besigye, a former ally of Museveni turned fierce critic, has been arrested multiple times, often on politically charged allegations.

His latest trial, currently being heard in Uganda’s High Court, follows his detention in November 2024 on accusations of treachery and illegal possession of firearms. His supporters argue that the charges are trumped up to silence dissent.

Mwenda speculated that if Besigye is convicted and sentenced to death, his wife, Winnie Byanyima, would have no choice but to plead with President Museveni for clemency.

“Then he will need Museveni to save his life by exercising his prerogative of mercy. His wife Winnie Byanyima will go to State House and kneel before Museveni to save her husband. The son of Kaguta will have the last laugh,” Mwenda stated.

Besigye’s legal troubles have intensified political tensions in Uganda, with opposition groups and human rights activists decrying what they call a weaponization of the judiciary to crush dissent.

The case is being closely watched as a test of Uganda’s judicial independence.

While Besigye has remained defiant throughout his political career, this latest trial poses perhaps the most serious threat to his freedom and even his life.

If convicted, his fate will ultimately rest with the very man he has spent decades challenging.

The Ugandan government has yet to officially respond to Mwenda’s remarks, but political analysts believe that even if Besigye is found guilty, Museveni could opt to pardon him for political reasons.

Some suggest that granting clemency would help Museveni project an image of magnanimity, while others argue that he may prefer to keep Besigye entangled in legal battles indefinitely.

For now, the courtroom drama continues, with Besigye’s supporters hoping for acquittal and his critics predicting an outcome that could forever alter Uganda’s political landscape.