Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, on hunger strike for a week now, has been moved to a medical clinic after his health reportedly deteriorated.
Besigye, a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, has been held at Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala ever since he was forcibly arrested from Nairobi, Kenya.
He is facing charges, among them illegal possession of weapons, in a military court.
Uganda Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi on Sunday, February 16 said that the case against Besigye would be transferred to a civilian court.
I have just visited Col Dr Kiiza Besigye at Luzira prison in the presence of his personal doctors. I have given him counsel and asked him to resume taking food as the government fast tracks the transfer of his case from the court martial to a civil court.
— DR. CHRIS BARYOMUNSI (@CHRISBARYOMUNS1) February 16, 2025
But on Monday, February 17, opposition politician Bobi Wine said that he and other leaders were unable to see Besigye.
“We passed by Luzira Upper Prison to check on Dr. Kizza Besigye who has been on a hunger strike to protest against his illegal detention. We were not able to see him because he is very frail and weak,” Wine said.
Wine claimed that Besigye sent them a message through his co-accused, Hajj Obed Lutale Kamulegeya, who briefed them that Besigy’s state of health was deteriorating, “to a point that he collapsed this morning.”
“He [Besigye] demands for his freedom, and emphasises that if the state has any legitimate case against him, he should be tried in a civilian court!”
Local broadcaster NTV Uganda is reporting that security forces have surrounded the health facility.
Concerns over Besigye’s health grew especially after his court appearance on Friday, where he looked frail, struggled to walk and had difficulties speaking.
