Uganda opposition leader Besigye rushed to ICU after collapsing during treason trial
Veteran Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been admitted to intensive care after collapsing during a court hearing in Kampala, raising fresh concerns about the health of the detained politician.
The 70-year-old, who has been in custody since November 2024, reportedly lost consciousness while appearing before the High Court on treason charges. Witnesses said Besigye had been objecting to the appointment of state lawyers to represent him when he suddenly collapsed in court.
Prison officers rushed him from the courtroom to Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda’s largest public health facility, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
His wife, Winnie Byanyima, who heads the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said Besigye was unconscious and unresponsive following the incident. She also claimed he had complained of being harmed before collapsing.
The opposition leader’s family has called for him to be transferred to a private medical facility and treated by his personal doctor rather than government-appointed medical personnel.
Besigye is facing treason charges alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, over allegations that they plotted to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government. Both men deny the accusations. Treason is a capital offence in Uganda and carries the possibility of a death sentence upon conviction.
The former presidential candidate, who challenged Museveni in four elections, was taken into custody after being seized in neighbouring Kenya and returned to Uganda in late 2024, a move that drew criticism from opposition groups and human rights advocates.
His legal team has also faced setbacks in recent months. Lead lawyer Erias Lukwago was arrested last month and charged with allegedly failing to report acts of treason, while Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda when she attempted to join the defence team.
Besigye’s son, Adam Ampa, has appealed to President Museveni and military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to release his father on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating condition.
Opposition figures have condemned the circumstances surrounding Besigye’s court appearance, arguing that his health should have been prioritised. The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of the government’s handling of one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition leaders as his high-profile treason case continues.
Source: BBC
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