Kizza Besigye: Ugandan politician starts hunger strike in detention

Veteran Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye has embarked on a hunger strike while being detained, a move that underscores his protest against what he perceives as unjust treatment by the authorities. Besigye, who has been a prominent figure in Uganda's opposition politics for decades, has been held for nearly three months as he awaits trial. The hunger strike began as a symbol of non-violent resistance against his prolonged detention without trial, which Besigye and his supporters argue is politically motivated. Over the years, Besigye has emerged as one of the most significant challengers to Uganda's long-serving President Yoweri Museveni. His repeated attempts to secure the presidency through the ballot box have been marred by allegations of election fraud and widespread repression of his supporters by state security forces. Besigye's current detention stems from charges that his legal team and supporters claim are fabricated to silence his dissent. The specifics of the charges have not been made fully public, but they are understood to be related to his continuous criticism of the government's policies and his efforts to mobilize public demonstrations against what he sees as an increasingly authoritarian regime. The decision to go on a hunger strike brings renewed international attention to Besigye's plight and the broader issues of political repression and the lack of democratic freedoms in Uganda. Rights groups and international observers have called for his immediate release and for the Ugandan government to ensure a fair trial in accordance with international human rights standards. Besigye's hunger strike is