Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye Unable to Speak After Courtroom Collapse, Wife Says

Uganda’s veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye remains in a critical condition and is currently unable to speak following his collapse during a court hearing last week, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima.

The 70-year-old politician has been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala after collapsing during proceedings in his treason trial on July 29, 2026.

Providing an update on his condition, Byanyima said she visited her husband in hospital and found him extremely weak. Although he is now able to open his eyes, she said he is still unable to speak or write because of his condition.

Despite the seriousness of his health, Byanyima said there are encouraging signs of improvement. She revealed that Besigye has now been able to drink soup, marking progress after previously relying entirely on nutrients administered through intravenous drips.

She also called on the Ugandan government to respect Besigye’s fundamental rights, including his right to proper medical treatment, his right to life, and his right to a fair trial.

Besigye, one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures and a longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has been in detention since late 2024 after being allegedly abducted in neighboring Kenya and returned to Uganda, where he was charged with treason.

His arrest and prosecution have drawn widespread attention from human rights organizations and opposition supporters, who have repeatedly expressed concern over his detention and access to medical care.

The latest health update comes just days after Besigye collapsed in court while asking judges to halt the proceedings, forcing the hearing to be suspended as medical personnel rushed to assist him before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.