Kenyan human rights activists have demanded the immediate release of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye after he collapsed during a court session in Kampala and was subsequently admitted to an intensive care unit.
On Thursday, protesters gathered in Nairobi, voicing concern over Besigye’s worsening health. They accused Ugandan authorities of undermining due process in the treason case against him. Activist Mwanasiti Athman highlighted his critical condition, referring to eyewitness accounts describing the opposition figure as severely weakened before collapsing.
Besigye showed signs of yellowing eyes, labored breathing, and gasping for air. He is currently in the ICU at Mulago National Referral Hospital, under military guard.
The activists also called for the release of Besigye’s lead lawyer, Erias Lukwago, who is held in Luzira Prison on related charges. Activist Michael Ngige urged Ugandan authorities to grant Besigye unconditional bail on humanitarian grounds for specialized medical care.
Besigye’s collapse occurred on Wednesday while he protested being tried without lawyers of his choosing following Lukwago’s detention. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, stated that Besigye remains unconscious in intensive care at Mulago Hospital. Byanyima noted that Besigye cried out about being harmed shortly before losing consciousness.
Ingrid Turinawe, a close associate, reported that family and supporters were initially barred from visiting Besigye, with his personal doctor only permitted access several hours after his collapse. The Ugandan Prisons Service had not commented at the time of this report.
Besigye faces treason charges, with accusations that he plotted to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government. His political party dismisses the allegations as politically motivated. Having served previously as Museveni’s personal physician and military aide, Besigye has since become one of his strongest critics, contesting Uganda’s presidency four times.
The case has garnered international attention amid concerns over Besigye’s health, detention conditions, and the fairness of the judicial proceedings.
