Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who has been on a hunger strike for a week, was returned to prison after being admitted to a health clinic overnight, according to reports from his supporters.
The 68-year-old political activist’s health deteriorated, prompting his transfer to a private medical facility in a prison ambulance, as stated by his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, on Facebook.
Kizza Besigye’s Health Deteriorates Amid Hunger Strike
Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan political activist, was rushed to a private medical facility as his health worsened due to a week-long hunger strike. His lawyer, Erias Lukwago, confirmed the details on social media, raising concerns about the opposition leader’s well-being.
Besigye, who has been charged in a military court with illegal possession of a firearm, threatening national security, and treachery (a charge that carries the death sentence), denies all accusations. His detention and trial have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and political allies.
Ugandan’s Government’s Response to Besigye’s Hunger Strike
The news of Besigye’s declining health came hours after a Ugandan cabinet minister visited him in jail, urging him to end his hunger strike. The minister reportedly promised to drop the military trial and transfer the case to a civil court.
However, Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, who is also the director of the UN’s HIV/Aids programme, expressed skepticism about the visit. She described it as “highly suspicious” and warned the government would be held accountable for any harm to her husband.
Kizza Besigye’s Detention and Military Trial Controversy
Kizza Besigye, a veteran politician and four-time presidential candidate, has been in detention since his dramatic abduction in Kenya in November. He was taken back to Uganda to face a military trial, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that trying civilians in military courts is unconstitutional.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, dismissed the court’s decision as “a wrong decision” and vowed to challenge it. However, Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi recently stated that the government is fast-tracking the transfer of Besigye’s case to a civil court.
Besigye’s Overnight Clinic Visit and Return to Prison
On Sunday night, Besigye was taken to a clinic in a Kampala suburb under heavy security deployment. According to reports, he was seen being pushed in a wheelchair.
Wafula Oguttu, a former opposition leader in parliament and a Besigye ally, stated that prison officers planned to return him to jail after conducting medical tests. Harold Kaija, one of Besigye’s political aides, confirmed that the opposition leader is now back in prison.
Kizza Besigye’s Hunger Strike and Political Persecution Claims
Kizza Besigye began his hunger strike a week ago to protest his continued detention and the delay in starting his trial. The former ally of President Museveni, who once served as his personal doctor, has accused the authorities of political persecution.
Despite being less active in recent years and not contesting the 2021 election, Besigye remains a significant figure in Ugandan politics. His frail appearance during a court appearance last Friday prompted the Ugandan medical doctors’ association to call for his “immediate release” on health grounds.
