Besigye In Deadly Health State – Rushed To Hospital In The Midnight

Fresh concern has emerged over the health of veteran opposition figure Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye following reports that he was rushed to hospital in what his party has described as a deeply worrying condition.

The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) announced early Tuesday morning that Besigye was hurriedly transferred from Luzira Maximum Security Prison to a medical facility at Bugolobi Village Mall after his health reportedly deteriorated sharply overnight.

According to the party, the transfer was conducted under heavy security, fuelling anxiety among supporters and human rights observers.

In a message posted online, the PFF said Besigye’s condition had reached a “critical” stage and urgently appealed to government authorities to allow his personal doctors and immediate family unrestricted access to him.

“We have received credible reports that Dr. Besigye was rushed in the night from Luzira Prison to a medical facility at Bugolobi Village Mall under heavy security,” the message reads in part.

The party went on to issue a strongly worded condemnation of the circumstances surrounding his treatment, saying: “It is a tragedy that a man who has dedicated his life to the health and freedom of others is being denied his own right to medical dignity. We hold the regime and the prison authorities fully accountable for his well-being.”

The statement further called on Ugandans to remain alert and prayerful as they await clarity on Besigye’s condition, describing the situation as both urgent and alarming.

By the time of publishing, the Uganda Prisons Service had not issued any public comment on the reported hospitalisation. The silence has only intensified public concern, with the PFF decrying what it termed the continued denial of Besigye’s “right to medical dignity” while in state custody.

History of health concerns in detention

This is not the first time Dr. Besigye’s health has raised alarm during his incarceration. The 68-year-old physician-turned-politician, a long-time critic of President Yoweri Museveni and a four-time presidential contender, has faced recurring health challenges since his arrest in Nairobi in November 2024.

Following his arrest, Besigye was transferred back to Uganda to face treason and related charges, a move that sparked widespread domestic and international criticism over due process and the handling of his detention.

Earlier this year, while held at Luzira Prison, Besigye’s health again became a subject of public concern after he embarked on a hunger strike. His legal team said the protest was meant to draw attention to what they described as illegal and prolonged detention.

During that period, reports indicated that his health visibly deteriorated. His frail and weakened appearance during a court appearance prompted renewed alarm, eventually leading to a brief hospitalisation in February.

Human rights organisations, medical professionals, and opposition figures have repeatedly urged authorities to grant Besigye access to his personal physicians and to ensure he receives adequate medical care. However, those appeals have largely gone unanswered, deepening fears that his condition could worsen without proper intervention.

As uncertainty surrounds his latest hospital transfer, supporters and observers continue to press for transparency and accountability, warning that Besigye’s health should not become another casualty of Uganda’s long-running political standoff.