Opposition leaders from different political parties have convened at the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party headquarters on Katonga Road in Kampala to mark the 70th birthday of opposition political veteran Dr. Kizza Besigye, who remains incarcerated on treason charges in Luzira.
In attendance were Jimmy Akena, Mugisha Muntu, Lina Zedriga, David Lewis Rubongoya, Frank Bulira, Moses Bigirwa, and some opposition Members of Parliament.
Speaking to opposition leaders on Thursday, April 30th, 2026, General Mugisha Muntu, the president of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Party, described Besigye as a courageous and resilient leader who has faced resistance for standing for the truth, adding that society needs such people to pursue justice.
“We need to have such men in politics who are determined to demand justice regardless of the resistance. People who dare to make decisions even when negative consequences are expected. Societies that remain resilient would finally win against all sorts of injustices. The opposition should aim at building people who can’t be broken in spirit because it’s the way to transform society and extend hope to the hopeless,” Muntu said.
Mathias Mpuuga, the president of the Democratic Front (DF), commended the PFF leadership for celebrating the resilience of Besigye, calling for unity and reconciliation in opposition.
“We should meet during disagreements and solve the differences. We should meet because we agree on some things. This gives us a chance to build strength and achieve the things we agree on for the good of our communities. We must meet in changing times to navigate the current situations,” Mpuuga said.
Jimmy Akena, the president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), called upon the opposition to emulate the spirit of resilience and courage of Besigye, whom he described as a father of struggle and beacon of defiance.
“We are going to focus on the pursuit of justice, and even if I fall off, I request that those remaining continue and bring this country to order. I am here to honor the father of the struggle, and we should keep his spirit of resilience regardless of what may come out of it,” Akena said.
Lina Zedriga, the interim president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), encouraged the opposition to unite and further the struggle, something that Besigye has emphasized for years.
Erias Lukwago, the PFF party president, described Besigye as a paragon of truth and justice, a statesman, and a forward-thinking leader who is courageous and inspirational to many.
Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate, was arrested in November 2024 and subsequently faced charges in both military and civilian courts. He remains in detention on charges relating to treason and the alleged planning of illegal acts to overthrow the government.0000
