Life of opposition leader is in danger
Kizza Besigye, a long-time opposition leader in Uganda, is facing serious danger, according to his wife, who recently visited him in prison.
”He is extremely weak,” said Winnie Byanyima in a statement posted on X. The 69-year-old politician had been taken overnight to a medical facility, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party said, without specifying what he was suffering from.
A spokesperson for the prison service has pushed back against claims that Besigye’s health is in serious trouble, stating that his recent visit to a doctor was merely for a “general check-up.”
Besigye, who once served as a personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni and has been one of his most persistent political challengers, has been in detention since November 2024.
”Dr Besigye told me he is finding it difficult to walk and is experiencing significant pain in his legs,” said Byanyima, a respected human rights advocate and head of UNAids. She said he had an infection that was worsening without giving further details.
Byanyima recounted how she discovered him “huddled” on a grimy plastic chair in a cramped room close to his cell, where he had been returned after receiving medical care overnight.
Besigye, who has challenged Museveni for the presidency four times, has been in detention alongside his associate Obeid Lutale since they were both dramatically captured in Kenya and brought back to Uganda.
The leader of the PFF has been charged with treason in a military court, a serious offense that could lead to the death penalty. He’s also facing charges for illegal firearm possession and for threatening national security, but he firmly denies all the allegations against him.
Just last month, a court denied their bail for the fourth time, stating that it was premature to release them since they hadn’t yet entered their pleas.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the PFF accused Ugandan authorities of failing to provide Besigye with adequate medical care, arguing that his ongoing detention is a violation of his fundamental rights.
“It is a tragedy that a man who has dedicated his life to the health and freedom of others is being denied his own right to medical dignity,” the PFF said, adding: “We hold the regime and the prison authorities fully accountable for his well-being.
The spokesperson for the prison service has refuted claims that Besigye’s health is in critical condition, stating that the opposition leader is receiving standard medical care.
“Kizza Besigye receives necessary treatment like other prisoners and he is fine,” Baine said, adding: “This morning he was doing his exercises.”
Byanyima described this statement as “a cover-up”.
”Last night, after a sharp deterioration in his condition, he was rushed to the clinic of his personal doctor, where he was treated and then returned to prison late at night,” she said, calling on the authorities to transfer him to a fully equipped hospital.
Another opposition leader, Bobi Wine, has raised alarms about Besigye’s health while he’s in detention, noting that his condition seems to be getting worse due to limited access to medical care.
“We stand fully in solidarity with him and pray for his recovery,” Wine said in a post on X.
This isn’t the first time that the seasoned opposition leader has faced health issues while being held at Luzira Prison, a high-security facility in Kampala. Just last February, Besigye was reported to be in critical condition after going on a hunger strike to demand justice. Having last run for the presidency in 2016, Besigye has long accused the authorities of targeting him for political reasons.
In recent years, he hasn’t been as involved in politics and chose not to run in the general election that took place earlier this month.
His family, along with opposition members and human rights organizations, have been increasingly vocal about their calls for his release on medical grounds.
President Museveni has pointed fingers at Besigye and his legal team, claiming they are responsible for the delays in the trial, which he argues have led to the continued detention of the PFF leader.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, was announced as the winner of last week’s presidential election on Saturday, securing 72% of the votes.
His main rival, Wine—better known as Robert Kyagulanyi—received 25%.
Wine has dismissed the election results as “fake” and has gone into hiding due to threats against his life.
Life of opposition leader is in danger
