Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye collapses in court and is taken to intensive care

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been admitted to intensive care in Kampala after collapsing unconscious during his treason trial, according to his wife. The 70-year-old was in court on Wednesday when he fell ill while objecting to state lawyers being appointed to represent him. Prison guards rushed him to hospital after the incident, which took place during a hearing at the High Court in the capital.

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Winnie Byanyima said on social media that her husband was unconscious, unable to speak and unresponsive even to a pain stimulus. She said he had been taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda's largest public hospital, and that he was refusing treatment from government medical personnel. Court witnesses said Besigye repeatedly shouted "stop" about his legal representation before collapsing, and that he had earlier said he was being injured.

Besigye has been detained since November 2024 and is facing treason charges alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale. Prosecutors allege that the pair plotted to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni's government, an accusation they deny. Treason is a capital offence in Uganda, meaning a conviction could carry the death penalty.

His lead lawyer was arrested last month and charged with allegedly failing to report acts of treason, adding to the legal pressure around the case. The episode has drawn attention because Besigye is one of Uganda's best-known opposition figures and has challenged Museveni in presidential elections four times. He was abducted in Kenya in 2024 and taken back to Uganda, where he has remained in detention.

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The case has become a focal point for concerns about the treatment of opposition politicians, the role of the courts and the use of military or security structures in politically sensitive prosecutions. Byanyima, who heads the UN agency tackling HIV and Aids, said Besigye should be allowed to receive treatment from his personal physician at a private clinic rather than at a government facility. Reports said his sister, Olive Kobusingye, who is also a doctor, was in court but was initially not allowed to attend to him.

The ICU wing where he is being treated is guarded by heavily armed security officers, underlining the sensitivity of the case. What remains unclear is how long Besigye will stay in intensive care and whether the court hearing will resume as planned. It is also not clear whether his medical condition will affect the treason proceedings or prompt any change in his detention arrangements.

The next developments to watch are any official medical update, further court decisions and whether his legal team is able to secure access to him.

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