According to Byanyima, Besigye was once again in detention and had become gravely weakened after months of imprisonment and illness. His case, she said, was not simply about the persecution of one leader, but also served as a warning designed to raise the cost of opposing the government.

Muntu described the country's human rights situation as increasingly worrying, pointing to the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye beyond the constitutional 180-day limit for automatic bail, the banning of lawyer Martha Karua, and the recent abduction of Muwanga Kivumbi following his release on bail.