The party of opposition figure Kizza Besigye was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Tuesday, with its jailed leader behind bars for alleged treason.
Supporters at the event carried a framed portrait of Besigye, who was expected to address the launch of his People’s Front for Freedom, either by video conference or through a written message.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been jailed since November on charges he plotted to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni.
Prosecutors cite treason, a crime that carries the death penalty in the east African country. They say Besigye solicited military support overseas to destabilize national security. Besigye’s attorneys and followers say the charges are politically motivated, calculated to remove him from political contestation over Uganda’s future after Museveni, who is 80.
Besigye has been repeatedly denied bail even as his attorneys cite his poor health.
Uganda’s next presidential election is set for January 2026.
Museveni,
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