“This Is Madness” – Gov’t Furious as Besigye Set to Be Nominated From a Prison Cell

In a move that could reshape Uganda’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 General Election, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has officially opened the door for its jailed founding leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, to be nominated as the party’s presidential flag bearer — even while behind bars.

During a press briefing at PFF headquarters in Kampala on June 23, party leaders unveiled revised electoral guidelines allowing presidential aspirants to be nominated in absentia. This amendment is being hailed as a bold and strategic move, aimed at ensuring that political repression does not silence key voices in the democratic process.

Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, has been in detention for months over charges linked to alleged unlawful protests. His continued incarceration has sparked widespread concern among human rights activists and opposition groups, who see it as part of a broader pattern of political persecution.

“We refuse to let tyranny decide who leads our struggle,” said a senior PFF official. “Dr. Besigye’s physical absence will not erase his ideas, his vision, or his people’s will.”

The newly amended guidelines permit any registered party member, regardless of location or physical condition, to submit their nomination via a designated representative. This opens the path for Besigye’s nomination without requiring his release or appearance before the electoral body.

The move has triggered mixed reactions. Supporters have hailed it as a powerful symbol of resistance, while critics argue that it may complicate legal and electoral procedures. Nonetheless, PFF remains defiant, citing both legal precedent and moral responsibility to include voices currently silenced by state actions.

As Uganda inches closer to the 2026 polls, the possibility of Besigye’s name appearing on the presidential ballot — from behind prison walls — could mark an unprecedented chapter in the nation’s democratic journey