Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye Crashes in Court, Moves to ICU

Sun Sep 06 2026 10:33:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye collapses during treason trial and is moved to intensive care—sparking protests over political detention and medical rights.

Kizza Besigye, the long‑time opposition challenger in Uganda, fell unconscious during a treason hearing in Kampala and was rushed to a government hospital’s ICU. Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima of UNAIDS, publicly announced his condition and demanded that private doctors treat him instead of government staff. The incident has drawn pressure from human rights groups and Besigye’s family, who argue that political motives are at play. With his attorneys detained or barred, Besigye’s case raises questions about the intersection of politics, detention and health care in Uganda.

Kizza Besigye Crashes in Court, Moves to ICU

The veteran Ugandan opposition leader collapsed during a treason hearing in Kampala’s High Court, losing consciousness, and was swiftly transported to Mulago National Referral Hospital’s intensive care unit.

The 70‑year‑old, detained since November 2024, was sharp‑eyed in the courtroom when he repeatedly shouted “stop” about his legal representation before the collapse. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, head of the United Nations’ agency for HIV and AIDS, posted the news on X, saying “He is unconscious, unable to speak, and unresponsive even to a pain stimulus.”

Government physicians were barred from attending to Besigye; his sister, a doctor, was locked out initially but has since been allowed to see him. Byanyima has demanded that Besigye be treated by his personal doctor at a private clinic rather than by government staff.

Besigye’s main lawyer, Erias Lukwago, remains in jail after being seized by the army last month, while prominent Kenyan attorney Martha Karua was barred from entering Uganda when she flew in to represent him.

The crisis has prompted human‑rights organisations and opposition figures to call for Besigye’s release on humanitarian grounds. His son, Adam Ampa, has written an open letter urging President Museveni and army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to show mercy, framing the episode as a violation of basic rights.

Besigye had previously been admitted to a private clinic during a hunger strike in February 2025 and had a brief hospital stay earlier in the year. Once a trusted aide to President Museveni, he has since become a central figure in the struggle for political change in Uganda.

Note: The situation remains fluid as authorities respond to calls for medical and political action. This article is part of our ongoing coverage of political developments in Uganda.