Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye Returns to Prison After Health Emergency Amid Hunger Strike
Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been on hunger strike for a week, has been returned to prison after a brief stay in a medical facility.
The 68-year-old, was rushed to a private clinic in a prison ambulance as his health deteriorated, with his lawyer Erias Lukwago confirming the news on social media.
Besigye is facing severe charges in a military court, including illegal possession of a firearm, threatening national security, and treason—charges that carry the death penalty. He has consistently denied these accusations.
The news of Besigye’s health emergency comes shortly after a cabinet minister, Chris Baryomunsi, announced that he had visited Besigye in prison. Baryomunsi reportedly urged the opposition leader to end his hunger strike, while also pledging to expedite the transfer of Besigye’s case from a military court to a civilian one.
Besigye, who has run for president against Uganda’s long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni on four occasions, was detained in November after being abducted in Kenya and brought back to Uganda for trial. The move sparked widespread concern, with many fearing it was politically motivated.
This latest development follows a landmark ruling by Uganda’s Supreme Court earlier this month, which deemed military trials for civilians unconstitutional. Despite this, the government has insisted that Besigye’s military trial will proceed, with President Museveni dismissing the court’s decision and vowing to challenge it.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, who is also the director of the UN’s HIV/AIDS program, criticized the minister’s visit, calling it “highly suspicious.” She emphasized that as a government official, Baryomunsi is not a concerned visitor but a “captor,” and warned that the government would be held accountable for any harm that comes to her husband.
On Sunday evening, MP Francis Mwijukye, a Besigye ally, revealed that Besigye had been transferred to a clinic in a Kampala suburb, surrounded by heavy security. Besigye was reportedly seen in a wheelchair, and after medical tests, he was returned to prison.
Besigye, a former ally of Museveni who once served as the president’s personal doctor, has accused the government of political persecution. Despite stepping back from active politics in recent years, Besigye’s political influence remains strong, and he has not contested the 2021 election.
The Ugandan Medical Doctors Association has called for Besigye’s immediate release, citing concerns over his health following his frail appearance in court last week.
Besigye’s continued detention and hunger strike have sparked a global outcry, with many calling for his release and highlighting concerns over Uganda’s growing repression of political dissent.
