Jailed veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has been transferred from the prison hospital back to his standard cell at Luzira Upper Prison despite remaining in an extremely weak physical condition, his family has revealed.
Taking to her official communication channels, his wife, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, expressed deep distress over the move, stating that Besigye’s sisters—who had been providing vital bedside care and assistance at the prison medical facility—were also ordered to leave.
“I am hurt, angry and anxious. Kizza Besigye has been returned to his prison cell, and his sisters who have been caring for him at the prison hospital have been sent away. He is still extremely weak and needs family care. Prison conditions will undermine his recovery.”
— Winnie Byanyima
1. Medical Assessment: Comprehension Preserved, Speech Lost
The controversial transfer comes on the heels of a specialized medical and neurological evaluation conducted after Besigye collapsed during court proceedings on July 29, 2026.
The assessment concluded that while the 70-year-old politician retains alert mental faculties and “preserved comprehension,” he suffers from a profound expressive communication impairment that renders him unable to speak or write.
Key Findings from Dr. Besigye's Medical Assessment:
├── Mental State: Alert with preserved cognitive comprehension
├── Functional Impairment: Complete inability to speak or write
├── Communication Method: Limited to pointing at letters, digits, and basic symbols
└── Clinical Recommendation: Urgent speech, physical, occupational & neurological rehabilitation
Specialists warned that communicating solely through rudimentary letter-pointing boards severely hinders his capacity to give comprehensive legal instructions to his defense attorneys or participate meaningfully in his defense.
2. Treason Trial Proceeds in Besigye’s Absence
Despite the medical impasse and the four-time presidential candidate’s absence from the dock on medical grounds, High Court Judge Justice Emmanuel Baguma has permitted the high-stakes treason trial to proceed.
During the ongoing sessions, state prosecution witness Wilson Orlando continued his testimony against Besigye and his co-accused. Byanyima strongly condemned the court’s stance, describing the continuation of proceedings in the defendant’s incapacitated state as a fundamental violation of fair trial principles.
3. Joint Accused Deny Treason Charges
Dr. Besigye is jointly indicted alongside Hajj Obeid Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola on charges related to treason and unlawful possession of security-related materials.
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the state charges are politically motivated.
While the Uganda Prisons Service has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the transfer, human rights advocates and political figures have intensified calls for Besigye to be granted specialized medical bail and unhindered access to independent medical practitioners.
