In a concerning development, Kizza Besigye, a veteran Ugandan opposition figure, has been rushed to a medical facility in the capital Kampala under heavy security. His party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), has raised alarm over his “critical and deteriorating” health condition.
The 69-year-old politician was driven to a private medical facility overnight, with the PFF stating that Besigye has been suffering from acute stomach pain and severe dehydration. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, a respected human rights advocate and head of UNAIDS, has described his condition as “serious,” saying he was “shaking and unable to walk.”
However, Ugandan prison authorities have downplayed the severity of Besigye’s health issues, describing his overnight visit to a doctor as a “general check-up.” Frank Baine, a spokesman for Uganda’s prisons, claimed that Besigye “receives necessary treatment like other prisoners and he is fine,” adding that he was “doing his exercises” that morning.
The PFF has strongly disputed these claims, accusing the authorities of denying Besigye proper medical care and “a blatant attempt to mask the physical toll” of his continued detention. The party has demanded that Besigye’s personal doctors and family be granted immediate and unrestricted access to provide specialized and independent medical care.
Besigye, a former personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni and one of his longest-standing political rivals, has been in detention since November 2020. He was charged in a military court with treason, illegal possession of a firearm, and threatening national security, all of which he denies.
This is not the first time Besigye has fallen ill while in custody. Last February, he was also reported to be critically ill after going on a hunger strike to demand justice. His family, opposition groups, and human rights organizations have been increasingly calling for his release on medical grounds.
President Museveni, who has held power since 1986 and was recently re-elected with 72% of the vote, has blamed Besigye and his legal team for the delays in the trial, which he says have resulted in the PFF leader’s continued detention.
As the situation surrounding Besigye’s health remains uncertain, concerns are growing over the well-being of the veteran opposition figure and the broader implications for political dissent in Uganda.