Ugandan Opposition Veteran Besigye Suffers Courtroom Collapse Amid Treason Case

Veteran Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been admitted to an intensive care unit after collapsing unconscious during a High Court hearing in Kampala, intensifying scrutiny of his prolonged detention and the treatment of political opponents under President Yoweri Museveni.

The 70-year-old, who has been detained since November 2024 on treason charges he denies, reportedly collapsed after objecting to the appointment of state lawyers to represent him. Witnesses said Besigye repeatedly protested in court before losing consciousness, prompting prison officers to rush him to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

His wife, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said Besigye was unconscious, unable to speak and unresponsive even to painful stimuli following the incident. She also alleged that his sister, a physician and his personal doctor, was initially prevented from attending to him in court, although reports later indicated she had been granted access.

Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger to Museveni and once the president’s personal physician before becoming one of his fiercest critics, is accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Treason carries the death penalty in Uganda if a conviction is secured.

His legal team has faced mounting obstacles, with lead lawyer Erias Lukwago currently detained on separate treason-related charges, while Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda last month when she attempted to join his defence.

The developments have renewed criticism from opposition figures and rights advocates over the handling of Besigye’s case. His son, Adam Ampa, appealed directly to President Museveni and army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to release his father on humanitarian grounds, saying no family should witness such suffering.

Opposition politician Bobi Wine described Besigye’s appearance in court while visibly ill as a violation of his fundamental rights, adding to growing concerns over Uganda’s political and judicial climate ahead of the continuation of the high-profile treason proceedings.