In brief
Kizza Besigye, a four‑time presidential contender, collapsed at a Kampala court and was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital’s ICU. His wife, famed UN AIDS chief Winnie Byanyima, declared him in an unresponsive state and demanded treatment from his private physician. The death‐sentence treason case looms as his legal team faces arrests and travel bans. Human rights groups call for medical‑grounds release amid severe conditions.
Kizza Besigye Takes a Sick Turn
Uganda’s veteran opposition leader collapsed during a treason hearing in Kampala’s High Court, losing consciousness and requiring urgent transfer to the hospital’s ICU, his wife confirmed on X.
Since November 2024 Besigye has been held in the capital. His attorneys’ roles have been curtailed – the lead lawyer was arrested and his prominent Kenyan counsel barred from the country.
During the hearing witnesses reported that Besigye repeatedly cried out “stop” as lawyers were appointed, and that the defendant protested the state legal representation before his collapse.
The UN AIDS chief, Winnie Byanyima, stated that Besigye was “unconscious, unable to speak and unresponsive to pain”, and demanded that he receive care only from his personal physician at a private clinic.
The ICU wing is guarded by armed officers; the doctor who is also Besigye’s sister has finally been allowed to see him, though he has refused government‑run medical staff.
Besigye’s son, Adam Ampa, appealed to President Museveni and army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for mercy, noting that no son should observe his father deteriorating under the very law he once supported.
The situation echoes earlier incidents – in February 2025 Besigye entered a private clinic while on hunger strike, and he has previously been admitted to public hospitals for brief stays.
Opposition leaders and human‑rights advocates urge a release on medical grounds, warning that the high‑profile detention risks a broader crackdown.
