Uganda: Prison Commissioner gives assurances on Besigye, Lukwago healthcare

The Commissioner General of Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija, has assured MPs that inmates requiring specialised care that the prisons service cannot provide, are allowed access to their personal doctors. AUDIO: Byabashaija Appearing before the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on Thursday, 06 August 2026, chaired by Hon. Robina Rwakoojo, Byabashaija was responding to concerns raised by MPs. The concerns included the health and medical treatment of high-profile remand prisoners, including veteran Opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye and former Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago. Kampala District Woman MP, Hon. Shamim Malende sought answers on the access to medical services by Besigye. “How is Uganda Prisons service dealing with the issue of health complications that prisoners encounter. Some prisoners enter prison when they are on strong medication and they have personal doctors that they usually have access to, but I see when they are in prison they only access medication in prison which is not adequate,” she said. AUDIO: Hon. Malende Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West) said: “Erias Lukwago has strong medical reports from Mulago National Referral Hospital and they have