Detained veteran opposition leader and former presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, has been rushed to a private medical facility in Bugolobi, a suburb of Kampala, after his health rapidly deteriorated in Luzira prison.
The move, confirmed by his lawyer and prominent political figures, raises further concerns about his well-being and the ongoing legal battles he faces.
Dr. Besigye, a longtime critic of the Ugandan government and former leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, was transported from the notorious prison in an ambulance to The Clinic, located on the third floor of Bugolobi Village Mall, under heavy security.
His condition prompted the intervention of his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, who also serves as the Lord Mayor of Kampala.
“More prayers for Dr. Besigye, currently at a private medical facility in Bugolobi where he was rushed in an ambulance after his health condition deteriorated,” Mr. Lukwago posted on Sunday evening.
The announcement came shortly after ICT and National Guidance Minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, confirmed a visit to Besigye at Luzira, where he had counseled him to resume eating in hopes of improving his health.
Dr. Baryomunsi, who met Dr. Besigye in the presence of his personal doctor, revealed that the government was fast-tracking efforts to transfer Besigye’s case from a military court to a civilian court.
“I have just visited Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira prison… I have given him counsel and asked him to resume taking food as the government works to resolve his case,” he posted on X.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains fraught with tension. Dr. Besigye, who has been on a hunger strike in protest of his continued detention, was arrested following political unrest.
His case has become a flashpoint for debate over human rights and political freedoms in Uganda.
On January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda declared that trying civilians in military courts is unconstitutional, but this ruling has yet to result in Besigye’s release.
He and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, remain imprisoned due to ongoing bureaucratic delays. As these delays persist, legal experts and human rights groups continue to demand Besigye’s immediate release.
Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye, who also posted updates on Besigye’s condition, described the scene outside the clinic, saying: “Amidst very heavy security deployment, Dr. Besigye has been brought to a clinic at Bugolobi Village Mall. The Clinic is called The Clinic on the 3rd floor of the Mall. He was being pushed in a wheelchair.”
Earlier, the Uganda Prisons Service spokesperson, Frank Baine, dismissed claims that Dr. Besigye’s health had taken a serious turn, calling it “propaganda.”
“Dr. Besigye is fine. Whatever you are hearing from some people is just propaganda. Claims that we called his family members, as alleged, are also not true,” Baine stated in response to the mounting public concern.
However, this official stance has done little to quell the widespread anxiety over Dr. Besigye’s health and the mounting political pressure on the government to address his situation.
As a former presidential candidate and a leading figure in Uganda’s opposition, Besigye’s plight has garnered international attention and calls for the Ugandan authorities to respect judicial rulings and human rights norms.
The move to a private clinic highlights the precarious state of Besigye’s health, but it also underscores the growing public frustration surrounding his detention.
Political observers remain vigilant as the legal and political ramifications of this case continue to unfold, with the Ugandan government facing mounting scrutiny both at home and abroad.
Dr. Besigye’s supporters continue to call for his immediate release and emphasize the need for political reform, as his case becomes emblematic of the challenges faced by opposition figures under President Yoweri Museveni’s longstanding administration.
