Kizza Besigye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kizza Besigye
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe
22 April 1956 Rukungiri, British Uganda |
| Political party | Forum for Democratic Change |
| Other political affiliations |
National Resistance Movement (until 1999) |
| Spouse | Winnie Byanyima |
| Children |
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| Relatives | Olive Kobusingye (sister) |
| Residences | Kasangati, Wakiso, Uganda |
| Alma mater | Makerere University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Uganda |
| Branch | NRA (1982–1986) UPDF |
| Service years | 1982–1999 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Conflicts | Ugandan Bush War War in Uganda (1986–1994) |
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe (born 22 April 1956), known as Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye, is a Ugandan doctor, politician, and former military officer. He led the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party. He ran for president of Uganda in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016. In all these elections, he ran against Yoweri Museveni, who has been president since 1986. The results of the 2006 elections were challenged in court due to concerns about fairness. Besigye stepped down as FDC president in 2012.
Early Life and Education
Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe was born on April 22, 1956, in Rwakabengo, Rukungiri Municipality, southwestern Uganda. He was the second of six children. Sadly, both his parents passed away before he finished primary school. His father worked as a policeman.
Kizza Besigye attended Kinyasano Primary School and Mbarara Junior School. For his high school education, he went to Kitante High School in Kampala and later Kigezi High School in Kabale District.
University Studies and Medical Career
In 1975, Besigye began studying at Makerere University. He graduated in 1980 with a degree in human medicine, becoming a doctor. After graduating, he worked briefly at Mulago National Hospital.
He later moved to Kenya and worked as a doctor at Aga Khan Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital. In 1982, he joined Yoweri Museveni's rebel group, the National Resistance Movement/Army (NRM/A).
Joining the Government
When the NRM/A came to power in January 1986, Besigye became Museveni's personal doctor. He was then appointed Minister of State for Internal Affairs. He also served as Minister of State in the President's office and as National Political Commissar.
In 1991, he became a commanding officer in Masaka, central Uganda. By 1993, he was the army's chief of logistics and engineering. He retired from the Uganda People's Defence Forces in 2001 as a colonel.
Family Life
On July 7, 1999, Kizza Besigye married Winnie Byanyima. She was a Ugandan Member of Parliament. Their wedding took place in Nsambya, Kampala.
Political Journey
In 1999, Besigye wrote a document that criticized the government. He said the ruling party was becoming too focused on one person and had issues with corruption. He faced legal challenges for sharing his opinions. In 2000, the charges were dropped after he apologized for how the document was published.
First Presidential Campaign (2001)
In October 2000, Besigye announced he would run against Museveni in the 2001 elections. He was Museveni's strongest opponent. During his campaign, he spoke out against corruption and wanted to change Uganda's political system to allow more parties.
He lost the election, which had concerns about fairness and how people voted. In March 2001, Besigye asked the Supreme Court to cancel the election results. The court agreed that there had been issues but decided not to cancel the election.
Challenges and Return to Uganda
In June 2001, Besigye was briefly arrested. The government accused him of being linked to armed groups. His supporters said these accusations were made to harm his reputation.
In August 2001, Besigye left Uganda, saying he feared for his safety. He lived in South Africa for four years, continuing to criticize Museveni's government. He returned to Uganda on October 26, 2005, to register for the 2006 elections. Thousands of supporters welcomed him.
In November 2005, a United Nations envoy confirmed the existence of some armed groups in the region.
2006 Election and Legal Issues
Besigye's campaign was interrupted on November 14, 2005, when he was arrested on serious charges. His arrest led to protests in Kampala. Many people, both in Uganda and internationally, urged the government to release him. The government then placed restrictions on public gatherings and media discussions about his case.
On November 25, Uganda's high court granted Besigye bail. However, he was immediately sent back to jail on further serious charges. He argued that as a retired military officer, he should not be tried in a military court. He was freed on bail by the high court on January 6, 2006.
In the 2006 Ugandan general election, Besigye was the main challenger to Museveni. Museveni won with 59% of the vote, while Besigye received 37%. Besigye claimed the results were unfair. The Supreme Court later ruled that the election had issues like intimidation and unfairness, but still upheld the results.
2011 Election and Protests
In the 2011 Ugandan general election, Besigye lost to Museveni for the third time. He claimed that Museveni used unfair methods to win.
After the 2011 elections, Besigye asked his party members elected to parliament to boycott it. However, the newly elected members disagreed, causing some tension within the FDC party.
On April 28, 2011, Besigye was arrested during a protest about high food and fuel prices. This led to more protests in Kampala, where some people were injured and arrested.
Later Elections and Activism
In the 2016 Ugandan general election, Besigye again ran as the FDC presidential candidate against Museveni. He lost, receiving 34 percent of the vote to Museveni's 62 percent.
After this election, Besigye encouraged his supporters to protest peacefully. He claimed the election process was unfair due to voter intimidation, arrests of opponents, and other issues. On May 11, 2016, Besigye held a private swearing-in ceremony as president of Uganda. He was arrested by the Ugandan Army shortly after. He later formed "The people's government," believing he was the rightful winner of the 2016 elections.
For the 2021 elections, Besigye chose not to run for president. Instead, he said he would lead the opposition in a "plan B" to bring about change. He worked with Museveni's main opponent, Bobi Wine. After the 2021 elections, Besigye launched the People's Front for Transition, a group working together for change in Uganda.
Recent Events (2022-2025)
In May 2022, Besigye was arrested during a protest about rising prices in Uganda. He was offered bail but initially refused it due to the high fee. His lawyers successfully appealed to lower the bail amount, and he was released.
A few days later, Besigye resumed protests and was arrested again. He was sent back to prison. His lawyers tried to apply for bail, but it was denied by the court, which stated there was no guarantee he would not continue similar actions.
In November 2024, Besigye's wife, Winnie Byanyima, stated that he had been taken while in Nairobi, Kenya. He later appeared before a military court in Kampala on November 20, 2024. He was charged with having an illegal firearm and seeking military support to harm the security forces. Besigye pleaded not guilty and was sent to Luzira Maximum Security Prison. In January 2025, the military court ruled that he could be tried for serious offenses.
On January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda declared that trying civilians in military courts was against the constitution. They ordered an immediate stop to all cases against Besigye. However, the military announced it would continue his trial. On February 11, Besigye began a hunger strike. His lawyer stated on February 13 that he was unwell and needed special medical care. On February 16, the government said it would move his case to a civilian court and urged him to end his hunger strike. On February 18, Besigye was briefly held at a private clinic.
While in detention, Besigye started a new political party called the People’s Front for Freedom on July 8, 2025.
See also
In Spanish: Kizza Besigye para niños
- Elections in Uganda
- Politics of Uganda
- Political parties of Uganda
