Winnie Byanyima, the wife of jailed Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, has come under sharp criticism from a section of Kenyans and Ugandans after meeting Kenya’s President William Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Byanyima, in her capacity as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Executive Director, shared a photo of her meeting with President Ruto, expressing her support for the leader’s work as the African Union (AU) Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Products.

“Good to meet President William Ruto at UNGA. I strongly support his work as the AU Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Products. Africa must produce more of the medicines and health technologies we need,” Byanyima posted on X, formerly Twitter.

But immediately after the post, her comments section began flooding with messages of criticism, with many accusing President Ruto’s government of having a hand in the abduction of Kizza Besigye. Byanyima, however, was quick to indicate that he raised the issue with Ruto.

“I also raised the continuing persecution of Dr Kizza Besigye. He was abducted in Nairobi in November 2024, forcibly taken to Uganda and has remained in detention since. President Kaguta Museveni cannot wash his hands of an abduction that ended with his political opponent before a Ugandan military court and, nearly two years later, still in prison. African leaders must speak out against abduction and political persecution, and for respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Byanyima added.

When the criticism were too much, Byanyima said that she is attending the general assembly in her capacity as UNAIDS director, insisting that she is supposed to meet government, business and other leaders from across board in an effort to end the pandemic in Africa.

“I hear and respect the strong feelings about my partner Kizza Besigye. I am at work, meeting governments, business and other leaders to end AIDS and Ebola, prevent future pandemics and advance Africa’s health sovereignty. There is no leader whose hand I will not shake in pursuit of that work.”

She further said that she has evidence that Besigye was abducted by four Ugandan security officials, calling on President Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the Ugandan Military chief, to release not only her husband but all political prisoners.

“Kenyans are right to demand answers about whether their security agencies played any role in his abduction. Their democracy gives them that right. We Ugandans continue our struggle for freedom and democracy.”

Planted pistols

In September 2028, a key prosecution witness in the treason trial of Besigye told the High Court that two pistols allegedly recovered from a Nairobi apartment where the opposition politician and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, were arrested had been planted there by Kenyan police as part of an “intelligence operation”.

The Kenyan government has denied any involvement in Besigye’s abduction.