Detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been hospitalized in an unresponsive state after collapsing during a court hearing on Wednesday, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima, who heads the UN AIDS program UNAIDS. Byanyima stated that Besigye is now “unconscious, unable to speak, and unresponsive” and has been admitted to the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.

Besigye, 70, has been held since November 2024 on treason charges. He collapsed in the dock while protesting his trial without lawyers of his own choosing, after authorities also detained his lead lawyer, Erias Lukwago. Before collapsing, Besigye cried out that he was being injured, Byanyima said.

Byanyima has called for her husband to be transferred to a private facility where he can be treated by his personal physician, but the court has not granted permission. Ingrid Turinawe, a close confidant of Besigye, told the AP that she and others were not allowed to see him at the hospital, and his personal physician was only able to visit hours after his collapse.

Besigye, a former ally-turned-critic of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, was arrested in Kenya along with his aide and repatriated to Uganda. His lawyers, supporters, and rights activists allege the charges are politically motivated and part of a crackdown on opponents by Museveni.

Both Museveni and his son, military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, have spoken out against Besigye. Kainerugaba previously described him as “a dead man walking,” while Museveni stated Besigye must answer for “the very serious offences he is alleged to have been planning.” Prosecutors have recently presented evidence they claim proves Besigye and others plotted to overthrow the government.

Museveni, 81, was declared winner of the last election, but runner-up Bobi Wine rejected the results and has since gone into exile in the United States.

Source: www.aljazeera.com