Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader currently on trial for treason, has been hospitalized in Kampala after collapsing during a court hearing on July 30. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, described his condition as very weak and noted that he is unable to speak or write.
Besigye, 70, who has been detained since late 2024 after being forcibly returned from Kenya, was admitted to an intensive care unit following the incident. The collapse occurred shortly after he protested the court's decision to appoint lawyers to represent him, with his lead defence lawyer arrested and another barred from entering Uganda.
Byanyima, also the executive director of UNAIDS, shared updates from Mulago Hospital, stating:
- Besigye remained unconscious for an extended period before opening his eyes.
- He cannot communicate verbally or through writing due to physical weakness.
- He was initially fed intravenously but has recently taken soup orally, indicating slight progress.
She emphasized the need for respect of Besigye’s constitutional rights, including access to proper medical care and a fair trial, highlighting that these rights should be upheld equally for all Ugandans.
Besigye was once a medical doctor to President Yoweri Museveni during their 1980s insurgency but later became a frequent presidential challenger, often facing harsh government repression.
