The veteran opposition figure was rushed to intensive care after losing consciousness during proceedings, intensifying concerns over his health after months in detention.
KAMPALA, Uganda (Running Africa) – Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital on Wednesday after collapsing during his high-profile treason trial at the High Court in Kampala, raising fresh concerns over his health and detention.
The 70-year-old veteran politician reportedly lost consciousness while protesting the court’s decision to appoint state-funded lawyers to represent him. Witnesses said Besigye repeatedly shouted “stop” before collapsing inside the courtroom, prompting prison officers to immediately transport him to the hospital under tight security.
His wife, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, later revealed that Besigye was admitted in a critical condition.
“He was unconscious, unable to speak, and unresponsive even to pain stimulus,” Byanyima said, adding that her husband had declined treatment from government medical personnel and requested to be examined by his personal doctor at a private medical facility.
The dramatic courtroom incident also drew concern from Besigye’s sister, Dr. Olive Kobusingye, who was present during the proceedings. She was initially prevented from seeing her brother, but authorities later allowed her to see him.
Kizza Besigye’s Treason Case Draws International Attention
Besigye, one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures, has remained in detention since November 2024, when he was allegedly abducted in neighboring Kenya and returned to Uganda under disputed circumstances.
He and his political aide, Obeid Lutale, are facing treason charges over allegations that they conspired to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni. Both men have denied the accusations.
Under Ugandan law, treason is a capital offense punishable by death.
The politically sensitive case has attracted increasing international scrutiny in recent months. Last month, Besigye’s lead defense lawyer, Erias Lukwago, was arrested, while prominent Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda after attempting to join Besigye’s legal team.
Calls Grow for Besigye’s Release
As concerns over Besigye’s deteriorating health continue to intensify, his son, Adam Ampa, has appealed directly to President Yoweri Museveni to release his father on humanitarian grounds.
The latest developments have reignited debate over human rights, political freedoms, and the treatment of opposition leaders in Uganda, with regional and international observers closely monitoring both Besigye’s condition and the ongoing legal proceedings.
