Ugandan opposition figure seriously ill in hospital, party says

The party said the health of detained Ugandan opposition veteran Kizza Besigye “has reached a critical and deteriorating state” after he was taken overnight to a medical facility in the capital, Kampala.

The People’s Freedom Front (PFF) said the 69-year-old politician was taken to a private medical facility under “heavy security” but did not specify what illness he was suffering from.

However, prison authorities denied that Besigye was in poor health, saying his overnight visit to the doctor was a “general check-up”.

Besigye, President Yoweri Museveni’s former personal doctor and one of his long-time political rivals, has been detained since November 2024.

The Popular Front leader was charged in a military court with treason, which is punishable by death, as well as illegal possession of firearms and threatening national security. He denies the accusations.

Besigye, who ran against Museveni four times for president, and his colleague Obed Lutale have been detained since they were arrested in Kenya and taken back to Uganda.

Last month, the court denied them bail for the fourth time, saying it was too early to release them because they had not yet entered a plea.

In a statement on Tuesday, PFF accused Ugandan authorities of denying Besigye adequate medical care, noting that his continued detention amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.

“It is a tragedy that a man who has devoted his life to the health and freedom of others should be denied his right to medical dignity,” the PFF said, adding: “We hold the regime and prison authorities fully responsible for his well-being.”

Ugandan prison spokesman Frank Bain denied that Besigye’s health was critical, saying the opposition figure was receiving standard medical supervision.

“Kiza Besigye received the necessary treatment like other prisoners and he is fine,” Bain said, adding: “He was doing exercises this morning.”

But the PFF described Bain’s comments as a “blatant attempt to hide the physical harm caused by Besigye’s continued detention” and insisted: “Our leader is seriously unwell.”

It asks that Besigye’s personal doctor and family be allowed immediate, unrestricted access to him so that they can provide professional and independent medical care.

Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, told local television that her husband complained of acute stomach pain, high fever and severe dehydration.

“He was shaking and unable to walk. He was so ill that he refused treatment from the prison authorities,” added Byanyima, a respected human rights advocate and head of UNAIDS.

This is not the first time the veteran opposition leader has fallen ill in Luzira Prison, the maximum security prison in Kampala where he is being held.

Last February, Besigye He is reportedly in critical condition after going on a hunger strike to demand justice.

Besigye last ran for president in 2016 after accusing authorities of a witch hunt.

He has become less politically active in recent years and did not run in the general election earlier this month.

His family, opposition and human rights groups have increasingly called for his release on health grounds.

President Museveni blamed Besigye and his legal team for delays in the trial, which he said had resulted in the Popular Front leader’s continued detention.

Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, was declared the winner of last week’s presidential election on Saturday with 72% of the vote.

His closest challenger, Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, received 25%.

Wynn refused to admit that the results were “fake” and went into hiding citing a threat to his life.