- Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was taken under tight security to a medical facility for immediate medical attention.
- Security personnel were heavily stationed around the clinic, restricting access and movement within the surrounding vicinity
- According to reports, Besigye was returned to prison and remains in detention, despite a Supreme Court ruling that he should be released.
Veteran opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye was taken to a medical facility under close security on Sunday, February 16, for immediate medical treatment.
Buhweju County Member of Parliament Francis Mwijukye stated that Besigye arrived at the clinic, located on the third floor of the mall, in a wheelchair.
What led to the sudden hospitalization of Besigye?
His visibly weakened state and reported struggle to breathe during his last court appearance had already raised concerns among his supporters, who have accused authorities of neglecting his medical needs while he was in custody.
Security personnel have allegedly blocked off the medical center, restricting entry and movement within the area.
According to reports, the leader of the opposition was released and then readmitted to detention despite his fragile health condition.
Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, a close associate of Besigye, confirmed to Nile Post that he is indeed receiving medical treatment.
Kizza Besigye was arrested on November 16, 2024, and charged with treason in a military court. Although the Supreme Court had ruled last month that he should be released, he is still being held at Luzira Prison.
His lengthy imprisonment has attracted severe criticism from human rights advocates and opposition leaders, who claim the government is disregarding court rulings.
Uganda Prisons officials claim Besigye is in stable health and receiving the necessary medical care, but his supporters are unconvinced. The opposition leader's visibly frail appearance in court has intensified concerns that his ongoing detention under subpar conditions is exacerbating his health issues.
What was the motivation behind Besigye's decision to embark on a hunger strike?
According to his wife Winnie Byanyima, Bisigye staged a hunger protest as an act of protest against what she described as unlawful detention.
Due to his worsening health, the East African country has since cancelled plans to try Bisigye in a military court because of his poor health.
Uganda's Information Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, announced plans to transfer Bisyge's case to a civilian court, asking him to end his hunger strike while in jail.
The minister stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he had visited the opposition leader in the presence of his personal physicians and requested that he resume eating in anticipation of his transfer.
What is Dr. Besigye being accused of?
The prominent Ugandan opposition leader is facing charges of having unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and allegedly planning to undermine national security.
Kizza Besigye and his associate, Haji Obeid Lutale, were accused of possessing two pistols and ammunition and seeking logistical support from various international locations with the intent to undermine Uganda's security.
It is alleged that Besigye was taken while he was in Nairobi attending a book launch event on 16 November 2024.
After attending the launch, he and Lutale left for a meeting at an apartment on Riverside Drive before being intercepted, only to reappear in Kampala's military court a few days later.