Veteran Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye is in critical condition after collapsing during a court session in Kampala where he is facing treason charges, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima.
Besigye was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital after collapsing during proceedings before the High Court. The court session was subsequently adjourned as medical personnel attended to him.
In a statement posted on X, Byanyima said her husband was in a critical state and called for urgent medical intervention.
“Dr. Kizza Besigye is unconscious and unresponsive to pain stimuli,” Byanyima said.
She further appealed to Ugandan authorities to allow her husband to be transferred out of Mulago hospital, a public facility, and into a private facility where he can be treated by his personal physician, and urged his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.
The Ugandan government had not issued a detailed statement on Besigye’s medical condition at the time of publication.
The collapse occurred as Besigye appeared in court to answer treason charges, which stem from allegations that he conspired to overthrow the Ugandan government. He has consistently denied the accusations, while his legal team maintains that the prosecution is politically motivated.
Under Ugandan law, treason is a capital offence that carries the possibility of the death penalty upon conviction.
Besigye has remained in custody since November 2024, when he was arrested following an incident in Nairobi and later transferred to Uganda to face prosecution. His detention has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights organisations, who have repeatedly raised concerns over his treatment and access to healthcare.
His latest medical emergency has renewed scrutiny of his health while in detention.
Earlier this year, Byanyima disclosed that Besigye had experienced deteriorating health, including episodes of illness that required medical attention. She has previously accused prison authorities of restricting access to doctors of his choice, claims that have fuelled concerns among his supporters and rights groups.
The court collapse has prompted fresh calls for authorities to ensure he receives appropriate medical treatment as legal proceedings continue.
Besigye remains one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures. A medical doctor by profession, he was once a close ally and personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni during Uganda’s liberation struggle before becoming one of the president’s most outspoken critics.
He has contested Uganda’s presidency four times—in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016—and has remained a central figure in the country’s opposition politics for more than two decades.
The High Court has not announced when Besigye’s case will resume following the adjournment. His condition at Mulago National Referral Hospital continues to be closely monitored, with supporters awaiting further updates from his family, medical team and Ugandan authorities.