Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, made a brief appearance in a civilian court on Wednesday as his legal team sought his release. However, a judge ruled that Besigye was too unwell to proceed with the hearing, and he was returned to a maximum-security prison in the capital, Kampala. Besigye, who has been in detention since November 2022, appeared visibly frail and exhausted during the brief session.
Besigye’s detention has sparked outrage among his supporters, legal advocates, and international human rights groups. The prominent opposition figure, who has contested four presidential elections in Uganda, was initially detained after mysteriously disappearing in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2022. He reappeared days later in a military tribunal in Uganda, confined to a cage, facing charges related to national security threats.
In addition to these initial charges, Besigye has since been accused of treason—a crime that, under military law, can carry the death penalty. His family has expressed grave concerns about his health, particularly after he began a hunger strike to protest his detention. Besigye’s lawyers have argued that the continued trial by military tribunal is illegal, following a ruling from Uganda’s Supreme Court last month that stated military courts cannot try civilians.
“This case required immediate resolution, but unfortunately, the court has not provided any indication of when a decision will be made,” said Erias Lukwago, one of Besigye’s attorneys, following the court proceedings. “The lack of clarity on the outcome is deeply concerning for us.”
The Ugandan justice system is currently reviewing the evidence against Besigye to determine the next steps, including whether he will face charges in a civilian court. His legal team maintains that the charges are politically motivated, aimed at silencing his opposition to President Yoweri Museveni’s regime.
Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife and UNAIDS Executive Director, has been vocal in expressing her concerns over his detention, calling the charges against him politically driven. “I am devastated, but not surprised. Besigye is a captive, and so are we all under Museveni’s rule,” she said.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the Ugandan government for its treatment of Besigye, calling for his immediate release. Amnesty stressed that Besigye’s detention and subsequent abduction violate international human rights law and call into question the fairness of the trial proceedings.
Military prosecutors accuse Besigye of soliciting weapons in Europe to destabilize Uganda’s national security, a claim that has yet to be substantiated. In addition, Uganda’s military leadership, including President Museveni’s son, Commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has alleged that Besigye plotted to assassinate the president—an accusation that has not been proven.
Besigye’s case has drawn increasing attention as Uganda’s political landscape heats up ahead of the 2026 presidential elections. His ongoing detention has raised fears of a potential political crisis, with his supporters and civil society groups warning that any harm to Besigye could lead to widespread unrest in the country.
The Commonwealth of Nations has called for Besigye’s release, alongside his assistant, Obeid Lutale, who faces similar charges. The case has become a focal point for Ugandans and the international community, signaling the tense political environment as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
Uganda, since its independence from colonial rule in 1962, has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power, with Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, remaining a dominant force in the country’s politics.
