PFF DENIES TALKS WITH SALEH OVER BESIGYE RELEASE

Nile Post

The People’s Front for Freedom has denied reports that it is negotiating with Gen Salim Saleh over the release of its leader Dr Kizza Besigye, saying no senior party official has accessed him since his collapse in court in July.

The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has dismissed reports that it is engaged in negotiations with Gen Salim Saleh to secure the release of its leader, Dr Kizza Besigye.

The denial comes days after New Vision reported that Saleh was leading behind-the-scenes efforts involving figures from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), the PFF, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), religious leaders and senior citizens to find a way of securing Besigye’s release.

According to the report, a committee of eminent persons was being assembled to support Saleh, while an opposition team would engage his group.

FDC deputy spokesperson Walid Mulindwa was also quoted confirming that discussions concerning Besigye’s release had taken place, including through the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD).

However, PFF says it has not authorised such negotiations.

In a statement, Harold Kaija, the party’s deputy chief of cabinet in charge of policy and communication, said no senior PFF leader had been granted access to Besigye since he collapsed during a court appearance on July 29, 2026.

He said the party could therefore not negotiate on Besigye’s behalf without instructions from its leader.

“No senior PFF leader has been granted access to our Leader since the day he collapsed in court on 29th July 2026. We therefore cannot negotiate without his instruction,” Kaija said.

The party said Besigye had applied for bail four times, but all four applications had been rejected.

It said it would continue pursuing all available legal avenues to secure his freedom.

PFF also rejected suggestions that Besigye or his supporters should apologise or plead with the government for his release, arguing that the evidence presented in court was insufficient to secure a conviction.

The party instead called on the State to stop interfering with the legal process or withdraw the case against Besigye.

The reported involvement of Saleh comes after comments by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in August that Besigye’s matter would be handled by Saleh.

Muhoozi said President Yoweri Museveni had given Saleh authority to handle the matter and suggested that anyone seeking forgiveness should approach him.

The subsequent report in New Vision indicated that the initiative had brought together people from government and opposition circles, as well as religious leaders and senior citizens.

The report, however, did not disclose the specific terms being discussed or indicate that an agreement had been reached on Besigye’s release.

The PFF denial now raises questions about the extent to which the party or Besigye himself has been involved in the reported initiative.

Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, has also said her husband has not entered into negotiations or a plea bargain over his case.

Byanyima said Besigye maintains his innocence and that the immediate concern should be his freedom and health.

She called for him to be granted bail so that he could return home and receive medical care.

Byanyima has also said that any broader political dialogue should be pursued separately from Besigye’s freedom and health, rather than making his release part of negotiations.

Besigye has been in custody since November 2024 after his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequent transfer to Uganda.

He is facing treason charges alongside his aide Obeid Lutale and UPDF Capt Denis Oola. The prosecution alleges that the accused participated in activities aimed at overthrowing the government by force. They have denied the allegations.

The trial is before High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma and remains at the prosecution stage.

The latest developments therefore leave two competing accounts: reports of efforts involving Saleh and opposition figures to secure Besigye’s release, and a firm PFF position that it has not authorised negotiations on its leader’s behalf.

No agreement on Besigye’s release or withdrawal of the charges has been publicly announced.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis