The Uganda Prisons Service has responded to allegations concerning the treatment of detained opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, categorically denying claims that he was forced to choose between consuming prison food or starving. Frank Baine, Deputy Director in charge of Corporate Affairs and Protocol, labeled the accusations as “outrageous” and without merit.
Baine stressed that the Prisons Service prioritizes inmate welfare, stating, “We have 80,000 inmates, and our work is to keep, not to kill.” He clarified that capital punishment only occurs after a court ruling and presidential approval.
Responding directly to the allegations, Baine emphasized that Besigye had not been isolated, was not on a hunger strike, and was treated in accordance with the Prisons Act. He cited Section 69, which guarantees all prisoners adequate and nutritious food, and noted that unconvicted prisoners may receive food from external sources, a privilege subject to conditions that can be revoked if abused.
The statement comes amid heightened media attention around Besigye’s detention. Baine called for public trust in prison professionals, adding, “You will never find a professor of history guiding a doctor in surgery; let us do our work.”