The son of Col Dr Kizza Besigye has been admitted to Harvard University in the United States.
The 17 year old Anselm Besigye completed his high school in Massachusetts in the United States.
The development was revealed by Dr Besigye’s wife and Oxfam International boss Winnie Byanyima on social media.
On her only son being accepted at one of the world’s most prestigious education and research institutions, Mrs Byanyima said she was “speechless” and that she was the “proudest mom.
I am speechless! Anselm has been admitted to Harvard Univ. Proudest Mum!
@akbesigye Thanking God.
— Winnie Byanyima (@Winnie_Byanyima) December 13, 2016
Harvard announced this week that it had admitted about 1000 students out of the 6400 who applied through its early admission arrangement.
The university’s Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons said Tuesday that the reason students are admitted – early or during the Regular Action process – is that “their academic, extracurricular, and personal strengths are extraordinary.”
Besigye’s son during his high school showed various abilities, winning back in April, the presidency of his school’s debating club.
Although the youngster was rushed out of Uganda in the early 2000s, and has spent most of his life in the US and UK, he has continued to be at the center of some political discussions back in the country.
During the heat of the previous elections, the chairman of the Electoral Commission Eng Badru Kiggundu questioned why the youthful Anselm had been tucked away from the frontline of the constant clashes between his father and government security agencies.
Mr Kiggundu accused Besigye of using young Ugandans to fight his battles while his son is “in the safety of first world countries enjoying cheese burgers and flavored ice-cream.”
Dr Besigye responded to these accusations saying that his son too had made sacrifices for the struggle, considering the mental stress he goes through watching his father being tortured and embarrassed by Ugandan security forces.