KAMPALA, UGANDA – Detained opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was reportedly rushed to a private clinic in Bugolobi after being transferred from Luzira Maximum Security Prison due to a deteriorating health condition.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The development was confirmed by the opposition political party, the People’s Front for Transition (PFT), via its account on X (formerly Twitter), which announced a “serious and alarming turn for the worse.”
According to the social media update, Dr. Besigye, who has been in custody for over a year, was transported from Luzira Prison to the medical facility under a heavy security detail.
Dr. Kizza Besigye was arrested on November 16, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda, along with another opposition figure, Hajji Obeid Kamulegeya. The initial report incorrectly stated the arrest date and location.
The two face charges including treason and illegal possession of firearms, stemming from allegations of meetings aimed at destabilizing the government. The specific charge of “soliciting military support” is part of the broader treason allegations.
The PFT confirmed the incident, expressing profound distress over the declining health of their leader, who is facing charges of treason, illegal possession of firearms, and related offences.
“It is a tragedy that a man who has dedicated his life to the health and freedom of others is being denied his own right to medical dignity. The state is fully accountable for his well-being,” the party declared.
The party has called upon “all compatriots and lovers of freedom” to keep Dr. Besigye in their prayers and to remain vigilant during this precarious time.
Dr. Besigye, a former presidential candidate and a relentless advocate for democratic governance, has been detained under circumstances that the PFT and international human rights observers have repeatedly condemned as politically motivated.
This developing situation highlights urgent concerns regarding the treatment of political detainees and the fundamental rights to adequate healthcare and due process.
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