Uganda’s Opposition Leader, Kizza Besigye, Collapses in Court During Treason Trial

Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye collapsed inside the High Court in Kampala on Tuesday after pleading with judges to halt proceedings in his ongoing treason trial, forcing the hearing to be suspended as medical personnel rushed to his aid.

Witnesses inside the courtroom said the 70-year-old politician suddenly fell while addressing the court, moments after urging the judges to stop the proceedings. The incident caused panic in the courtroom before health workers attended to him.

Besigye was later seen being wheeled out of the court and taken away in an ambulance. His condition was not immediately disclosed, although reports described it as concerning.

The dramatic courtroom scene has renewed attention on Besigye’s health, which has been the subject of growing concern since his detention late last year.

One of Uganda‘s most prominent opposition figures, Besigye has remained in custody since November 2024 after being charged with treason, an offence that carries severe penalties under Ugandan law. He has consistently denied all allegations against him.

His lawyers have repeatedly sought his release on bail, arguing that his age and deteriorating health warrant his temporary freedom while awaiting trial. However, the courts have rejected several of those applications, leaving him in remand as legal proceedings continue.

Besigye, a former personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni before becoming one of his fiercest political rivals, has contested the Ugandan presidency four times and has spent decades campaigning against Museveni’s government.

His arrests, detentions and court appearances have become a recurring feature of Uganda’s political landscape, with supporters accusing authorities of using the judicial system to silence opposition voices. The government has consistently denied those accusations, insisting that all cases against opposition politicians are handled in accordance with the law.

The latest incident is likely to intensify concerns among his supporters and human rights groups, who have repeatedly questioned the conditions of his detention and the pace of his trial.

Court officials had not announced when the hearing would resume, while no official medical update had been released on Besigye’s condition at the time of publication.

The case remains one of Uganda’s most closely watched political trials, with both domestic and international observers following developments closely as the country moves toward its next electoral cycle.