BUSH WAR BROTHERHOOD LIVES ON: Gen. Salim Saleh reveals how he Intervened to Save Ailing Colleague Dr. Besigye in Luzira.

By Musa Rwamigoye 

 

Gen Coleb Akandwanaho a.k.a Ge Salim Saleh has revealed that he found opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye in a life threatening condition while in custody at Luzira Prison, prompting him to intervene and arrange his transfer to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Lubowa for specialised medical treatment. 

Afande Saleh, the Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and younger brother of President Yoweri Museveni, made the disclosure while meeting chairpersons of parliamentary committees at Kapeeka in Nakaseke District this Friday. 

He said his intervention followed an August 25, 2026, social media post on X by Chie of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who indicated that Museveni had entrusted Saleh with handling Besigye’s situation.

Dr Besigye will be handled by Afande Saleh. If he wants forgiveness, he should talk to Afande Saleh. Mzee has given Afande Saleh those powers,” Afande Muhoozi wrote at the time. 

Gen. Saleh said he initially questioned whether Muhoozi was serious about assigning him the responsibility. 

“1 got that tweet on the 25th of August from the CDF that Kizza Besigye’s problem is my problem. I am the one going to sort it out” Saleh recalled. 

“He didn’t know that he had given me a very, very good opportunity because I had lost touch with KB completely because of those politics.” 

Saleh said he subsequently visited his former bush war colleague and was alarmed by his physical condition. 

“By the time i went to the hospital, I found my friend almost dead in prison. So my first action was to take him from the prison to a proper medical center” he said.

 

He explained that he arranged for Besigye to receive treatment at JCRC in Lubowa, an institution he helped establish. 

The bed he’s now being attended from is the same bed would be in, in my setup, if I was under intensive conditions, at the Joint Clinical Research Centre, which was established by us. a founder member there,” Saleh said. 

Uganda Prisons Service confirmed Besigye’s transfer for medical attention on August 31. His health had become a major public concern after he collapsed during court proceedings on July 29, 2026. 

The former presidential candidate has been detained since November 2024 and faces treason-related charges alongside his associates, allegations he denies.

 

Afande Saleh’s account provides new details about his personal involvement in securing treatment for Besigye, although the former presidential candidate’s current medical condition has not been independently established. 

Beyond he medical intervention, Afande Saleh disclosed that he has maintained contact with Besigye and is exploring ways to overcome the political differences that separated them. 

“I have been in touch with him. All the newspapers are talking peace talks,” he said. 

He, however, declined to characterise their engagement as formal negotiations for Besigye’s release.

 

“Don’t ask me whether we are in peace talks or not. For me, the moment I got that tweet, I said, ‘Ah, now God has helped me to reconnect with an old colleague.” 

Afande Saleh expressed hope that the renewed relationship could produce a common political understanding within three to six months.

“ hope we shall convince each other in the next maybe six months or maybe three months to have a combined outlook of the Uganda we want” he said. 

The remarks come amid reports of government-backed consultations over Besigye’s detention.

 

Justice Minister Norbert Mao has acknowledged consultations aimed at finding a political solution, while figures within Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom have disputed suggestions that the Party is participating formal negotiations.

Afande Saleh did not announce any agreement on Besigye’s release or indicate whether the discussions would affect the ongoing court proceedings.

 

What makes Afande Saleh a bush war brotherhood is that Gen. Salim Saleh and Dr. Kizza Besigye fought side-by-side I the bush to bring the NRM government to power. They were not just soldiers, they Were comrades/brothers who suffered together, slept in the same trenches, and risked death together. 

Therefore, this means that there is a close bond, friendship and family-like relationship formed during the 1981-1986 NRA Bush War in Luwero.

Faithfully, the intervention of Afande Saleh to rescue his bush war colleague from Luzira shows that brotherhood did not die. Even though today they are on different political sides, Afande Saleh is still a top NRA historical and brother to President Museveni, while Besigye is the main opposition leader that old bush love and loyalty still alive.

 

It is recorded that Dr. Besigye from 1982- 1986 served as President Museveni’s doctor and also as a medical officer for NRA fighters, treating casualties on the battlefront. He was always deployed with divisions going into battle to treat wounded soldiers.