1/9 A few days ago I came back from a grueling trip to war torn Ukraine. I have seen buildings bombed in films but never ever have I seen such devastation at such a scale in living color, nor heard the frightening sounds of air raid sirens.
The global AIDS response is perhaps the most successful story of multilateralism in 40 years.
I'm encouraged by the first statements I have heard in the #HLM2026AIDS opening debate.
Governments of the world: are we going to keep the promise?
#UnitedToEndAIDS
https://t.co/vD3DEIILZK
Rest in Peace to South African Jazz musician and composer Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Brand, and formerly known as Dollar Brand). Photo Credit: Deborah Feingold/Corbis
Oil and gas profits are booming, and there is unprecedented attention to taxation on fossil fuel companies, as seen at the Santa Marta Conference on phasing out fossil fuels. There is a political path for new permanent higher taxes on fossil fuel companies.
Second Statement: I am outraged by the blatant lies told to the public yesterday by the Uganda Prison Service spokesperson, Frank Baine, who claimed that Dr @kizzabesigye1 was not ill and that he had merely gone to a clinic for a routine medical check-up.
Today, the same Prison Service informed the court that Dr Besigye could not appear because he is ill, forcing the hearing to be postponed to 24 February. This contradiction exposes a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and conceal the truth about his deteriorating health.
I have just returned from Luzira Prison, where after more than two hours of haggling with the prison commander, I was finally allowed to see Dr Besigye. I found him huddled in a dirty plastic chair in a small room near his cell. He is extremely weak.
His symptoms have not improved. The prison doctor confirmed to me that Dr Besigye’s personal doctor had reported test results showing that the infection is worsening, not improving. Dr Besigye told me he is finding it difficult to walk and is experiencing significant pain in his legs. He is still unable to eat solid food and, in the past eight hours, had consumed only soup, an egg, and a slice of bread.
Despite his condition, prison authorities are refusing to transfer him to a fully equipped hospital where his personal doctor can properly monitor and treat him. Instead, they proposed admitting him to Murchison Bay Prison Hospital, a facility notorious for neglect and preventable deaths, and where the army would have full control over his treatment.
Dr Besigye has flatly refused this. He will not place his life in the hands of President Museveni and his personal army. He insists - reasonably and lawfully - on being treated at a private hospital where his doctor works, under prison guard if required.
I am deeply disturbed that a man who fell ill five days ago, whose condition is worsening, is still being held in a tiny, extremely hot cell and denied access to adequate medical care. This is cruel, dangerous, and unlawful.
The Officer-in-Charge of Luzira Prison and the NRM government must explain:
➡️ why Dr Besigye is being denied proper medical treatment,
➡️ the Prison Service lied to the public about his condition, and
➡️ a gravely ill detainee is being treated with such inhumanity.
I demand that Dr Kizza Besigye be released immediately and allowed to return home to be cared for by his family and doctors. I also demand that the trumped-up charges against him be dropped. His life is in danger. The responsibility will lie squarely with those who continue to deny him care.
Winnie Byanyima
Spouse of Dr Kizza Besigye
21 January 2026
Universal Health Coverage and HIV prevention go hand in hand.
Inclusive, affordable health systems mean people can access testing, treatment, & prevention without stigma or cost barriers.
On this #UniversalHealthCoverage Day, @UNAIDS reminds that inclusive, rights-based HIV services are essential to achieving health for all.
#UHCDay #GlobalGoals
https://t.co/0KhEpEwcxM
What an honour to welcome DE MP Sascha Can Beek to our office in Bonn on #HumanRightsDay. Thank you for your strong support to @UNAIDS & our vital work. Your solidarity gives hope. Together we push for health dignity & Justice for All
I commend 🇿🇦 on its leadership in advancing fair access to medicines, on debt & financing, and for its drive for universal health coverage through national health insurance. President @CyrilRamaphosa is lighting the way to a world that is both fairer and safer. Inequality is bad for public health. International action to address inequality will benefit everyone.
Serendipitous reunion with Eunice Mensah visiting Joburg from Ghana. Totally brilliant - and fearless - young leader for human rights for everyone.
The future is bright.
So much fun too phoning up our faves & Eunice’s mentors/fans @MuleyaM and @charlesabani to surprise them.
Prof. @john_ataguba, Canada Research Chair in Health Economics and member of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics shares what it takes to address social inequalities and their impact on health.
At #WHS2025, UNAIDS' @Winnie_Byanyima called for fairer global taxation to fund global health and development.
“A 2% tax on just 3,000 billionaires could raise $1.7 trillion, enough to fund global health, climate adaptation, and education.”
Watch panel: https://t.co/dOpbzFWH76
From addressing gender inequality to pioneering women-controlled HIV prevention, @ProfAbdoolKarim has transformed global health through her groundbreaking research.
At the @VirchowPrize ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director @Winnie_Byanyima honoured her scientific journey. ⤵
@Mulengakapwepwe@PabloBach 8 hours!!!! That's so long.. mine are a minute apart.. Happiest of birthdays ba Mulenga! You are so timeless and dont look at day over 40.. (elo the new 40..notty yakudala) soooo beautiful 😍 🤩 👌
Thank you @CyrilRamaphosa for meeting with us during #UNGA80 and for your leadership bringing the issue of inequality to the G20. It is an honour to serve on the #G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, with Chair @JosephEStiglitz and @Jayati1609, and to report back to the leaders at the G20 Summit in November.
Prince Harry, @MagicJohnson , @CharlizeAfrica and @ThusoMbedu unite with UNAIDS and Hollywood filmmaker @ronnyswaner to urge continued funding to end AIDS.
Watch their message https://t.co/sy46OlpoVN
Press release: https://t.co/s73pcYWHVp
first sign of life from the US administration on global HIV. Plan to buy Lenacapavir is a good step, an actual investment in prevention. A strategy that centers buying commodities is not the worst option in this moment from this administration.
https://t.co/h6aSGVPkyR