Date: July 30, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
KAMPALA, Uganda — Prominent Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye is unconscious and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital after collapsing during a court hearing on treason charges, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima. The incident has intensified concerns about Besigye's health and renewed criticism of his prolonged detention.
Besigye, 70, collapsed on Wednesday while appearing before the High Court in Kampala. Court proceedings were immediately suspended as medical personnel rushed to his aid before he was transported by ambulance to the hospital.
In a statement posted on X, Byanyima, who serves as Executive Director of UNAIDS, said her husband was in critical condition.
"He is unconscious, unable to speak, and unresponsive even to a pain stimulus," she wrote, adding that he cried out that he was being hurt before collapsing.
Besigye has been in custody since November 2024, when he and his aide, Obeid Lutale, were arrested in Kenya and returned to Uganda. Both men are facing treason charges, which they deny. Their lawyers and supporters argue the prosecution is politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures.
The veteran opposition politician is one of President Yoweri Museveni's longest-serving political rivals. A former personal physician to Museveni and once an ally during Uganda's liberation struggle, Besigye later became one of the president's fiercest critics and has unsuccessfully contested multiple presidential elections.
His health has reportedly deteriorated during his detention. Earlier this year, he carried out a hunger strike in protest over his imprisonment and access to medical care. His legal team has repeatedly requested bail on humanitarian grounds, but those applications have been denied.
Human rights organizations and opposition leaders have long criticized Besigye's detention, arguing that it reflects a wider pattern of political repression in Uganda. His case has drawn concern from both domestic and international observers, who have called for due process and access to independent medical treatment.
Ugandan government officials had not publicly commented on Besigye's condition at the time of reporting. Authorities have also not responded to calls from supporters demanding his release so he can receive specialized medical care outside state custody.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in Uganda following the country's recent elections and ongoing disputes between the government and opposition parties. Analysts say Besigye's medical emergency is likely to increase pressure on President Museveni's administration over its treatment of political opponents and its human rights record.