The health of Kizza Besigye, Uganda’s veteran opposition leader, has rapidly deteriorated while he remains in detention, according to his party, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). Besigye, who has been imprisoned since November 2024, was taken overnight to a medical facility in Kampala under heavy security after complaints of severe stomach pain, dehydration, and a high fever.
Besigye, a former personal doctor to President Yoweri Museveni and one of his longest-standing political rivals, has been charged with treason, illegal possession of a firearm, and threatening national security. He denies all accusations. His continued detention has sparked widespread concern, especially regarding his medical care, which his supporters argue is insufficient.
The PFF has accused the Ugandan government of denying Besigye proper medical attention and violating his basic rights. In a statement, they called the situation “a tragedy,” emphasizing that Besigye, who has spent his life advocating for the health and freedom of others, deserves dignity in his medical treatment. “We hold the regime and the prison authorities fully accountable for his well-being,” the party added.
However, Ugandan prison officials have downplayed the severity of Besigye’s condition. Frank Baine, a spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Service, stated that Besigye is receiving standard medical treatment, and that he had been doing his exercises that morning. “Kizza Besigye receives necessary treatment like other prisoners and he is fine,” Baine said.
Besigye’s family, particularly his wife Winnie Byanyima, who is a renowned human rights advocate and UNAIDS executive, has expressed grave concern. Byanyima reported that Besigye’s health had worsened significantly, with acute stomach pain and dehydration. “Dr. Besigye is seriously ill and has been denied timely and adequate medical care,” she said in a statement, describing how he was rushed to a private clinic for treatment but returned to prison later that night.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine has also voiced concern about Besigye’s health, expressing solidarity with him in a post on social media. “We stand fully in solidarity with him and pray for his recovery,” Wine wrote. Wine, who recently went into hiding after rejecting the results of the presidential election, also criticized the lack of medical care available to Besigye.
Besigye has a long history of opposition to President Museveni, and his detention has been viewed by many as politically motivated. In previous years, Besigye has accused the authorities of political persecution, particularly after he went on a hunger strike in 2024 to demand justice. His most recent imprisonment came after he was dramatically seized in Kenya and brought back to Uganda.
The ongoing situation has led to calls from human rights groups and his family for Besigye to be released on medical grounds. President Museveni has blamed Besigye and his legal team for delays in the trial process, which he says is responsible for the opposition leader’s continued detention. Despite these calls for his release, Besigye’s condition remains precarious, and his future in detention remains uncertain.
With Museveni having been declared the winner of the 2025 presidential election, securing 72% of the vote, opposition figures like Wine have rejected the results, calling them “fake.” Wine’s absence from the political scene has further highlighted the challenges facing the opposition in Uganda, where freedom of expression and political opposition are under increasing scrutiny.
As Besigye’s health continues to deteriorate, the calls for proper medical care and his release grow louder, with many questioning whether the government will heed these demands or continue its policy of holding political prisoners in a fragile state of health.
