Kampala, Uganda: Opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye was returned to Luzira Maximum Security Prison on Friday evening after receiving treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital, prompting his wife, Winnie Byanyima, to protest the decision, saying he remained too weak to walk, feed himself or continue his recovery in prison.
The transfer came hours after Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi visited the four-time presidential candidate at Mulago and said he was making steady progress under medical care.
“I paid a visit to Dr. Kiiza Besigye today morning at Mulago Hospital, where he is hospitalised. He is steadily recuperating, and I wished him a quick recovery,” Baryomunsi posted on X. “I thank the team of medical workers that are attending to him.”
However, Byanyima disputed the decision to discharge Besigye back to prison, saying his condition had not improved enough to warrant the transfer. “After 7pm tonight, my partner Kizza Besigye was bundled up and taken back to Luzira Prison. They did not even allow him to eat it,” Byanyima said.
She said she had been with Besigye until about 4:30 p.m. and found him still unable to walk independently, struggling to speak and incapable of feeding himself. “His family has been helping to feed and care for him at Mulago because he remains weak and dependent on assistance,” she added.
Byanyima said the family had expected that Besigye would remain at Mulago to continue rehabilitation following discussions held a day earlier involving his personal doctor, hospital staff and officials from the Uganda Prisons Service.
According to her, prison officials had acknowledged that Luzira Prison lacked the facilities required to support Besigye’s recovery. “The prisons official acknowledged that Luzira could not support KB in his present condition and recommended that he remain at Mulago while he rehabilitated and recovered,” she said.
The UNAIDS boss questioned why the decision changed after Dr. Baryomunsi’s visit to the hospital and called for an explanation regarding who authorised the transfer.
By press time, neither Mulago National Referral Hospital nor the Uganda Prisons Service had issued a detailed medical assessment explaining Besigye’s discharge or his return to prison.
Background to the case
Dr. Besigye, 70, was admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital after collapsing in the dock during proceedings before the High Court on July 29, where he is facing treason charges.
The High Court subsequently directed the Uganda Prisons Service to file a medical report after prison authorities informed Justice Emmanuel Baguma that Besigye was too ill to attend the continuation of his trial.
Besigye is jointly charged with Hajj Obeid Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola on treason-related offences. The three accused deny the charges.
His health has remained a subject of public interest throughout the proceedings, with opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights activists repeatedly expressing concern over his condition and access to specialised medical care.
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