Dr Michael Lulume Bayiga, the vice-chairperson of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has accused President Museveni and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, of subjecting Dr Kizza Besigye to continued political persecution by keeping him in detention despite his deteriorating health.
Lulume, who is also the outgoing Member of Parliament for Buikwe South in Kayunga district, made the remarks during an interview with Bbeg Media at Kampala International Medical Centre in Kansanga.
“I have learnt about Dr Besigye’s critical health condition, and I feel profound regret that President Museveni and his son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, cannot find the sympathy to release their comrade to seek specialised medical treatment,” Lulume said.
He said Besigye’s age and condition require routine medical examination and treatment in the care of his family, rather than incarceration. Lulume criticised Museveni for what he described as the humiliation of his former personal physician and fellow bush war fighter.
He questioned how President Museveni could find peace while a former comrade lies ill in detention.
“How do you get happiness when your fellow bush war fighter and former personal doctor is critically ill, and you deny him specialised treatment?” Lulume asked.
Turning to governance and public finance, Lulume criticised the Auditor General’s 2025 report, which indicated that Parish Development Model (PDM) funds amounting to Shs508.6 billion had not been disbursed.
He warned that intended beneficiaries should not expect much, arguing that the funds risk being diverted.
Lulume also raised concerns about the utilisation of public loans, saying inefficiencies had contributed to the growing public debt, which stands at Shs114.6 trillion according to the Auditor General’s latest report.
He said this had undermined the implementation of essential projects such as roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals.
He partly blamed this on what he described as limited focus on national development priorities.
Addressing Parliament, Lulume warned incoming legislators against allowing themselves to be used as “rubber stamps” by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“I am fully aware that the next Parliament will have many new legislators, and worse still, many will be half-baked on policy formulation, legislation, budgeting, appropriation, and oversight,” he said.
He also urged defeated opposition politicians to regroup and reorganise rather than pursue personal interests, arguing that their losses—especially in Buganda—were part of a long-term plan by the NRM to retain power.
He said: “When people got tired of the regime, they also turned their frustrations against us, accusing us of overstaying. Despite my experience, debating skills, and service as their medical doctor and lobbyist, I believe God had a hand in this so that we can restrategise and refocus our struggle against the dictatorship.”
Lulume, who recently crossed from the Democratic Party to PFF, advised opposition forces to explore alternative methods of political struggle, saying past approaches had failed.
“The NRM has mastered the art of cosmetic democracy, covered with a militaristic iron hand. If we fail to stand together and defend our comrades in detention, irrespective of party affiliation, this junta could be here for 100 years,” he said
He said the opposition would continue to unite around strategic principles that transcend personal interests.
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