Detained Ugandan opposition politician, Besigye, returns to prison after health crisis reportedly triggered by hunger strike

Ugandan opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who has been on hunger strike for a week, was rushed to a health clinic overnight after his condition worsened, before being returned to prison, his allies reported.

The 68-year-old was transported to a private medical facility in a prison ambulance as his health deteriorated, according to his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, who shared the news on Facebook.

BBC reported that Besigye is facing charges in a military court, including illegal possession of a firearm, threatening national security, and treachery—charges that carry the death penalty. Besigye denies the allegations.

The news of his health emergency came shortly after a cabinet minister, Chris Baryomunsi, visited Besigye in jail.

Baryomunsi urged him to resume eating and promised that the government would work to transfer his case from a military court to a civil court.

Besigye, who has run for president against long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni four times, has been detained since his dramatic abduction in Kenya in November, after which he was returned to Uganda to face military charges.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that trying civilians in military courts is unconstitutional, but the government insists that Besigye’s trial will proceed, with President Museveni dismissing the ruling as “a wrong decision.”

On Sunday, Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi confirmed his visit to Besigye, who was with his doctors, and urged the opposition leader to end his hunger strike while the government fast-tracks the transfer of his case to a civilian court.

Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, however, criticized the visit, calling it “highly suspicious.”

She posted on X, saying, “As a government minister, you are not a concerned visitor – you are his captor. We will hold you and your government fully accountable for any harm that comes to him.”

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Francis Mwijukye, an ally of Besigye, confirmed that he had been taken to a clinic in Kampala under heavy security.

Besigye was reportedly pushed in a wheelchair, and prison officers indicated that he would be returned to jail after medical tests.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.