By: Isaac Kwabena Boadu Date: 23rd January, 2026
The plight of veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye has sparked concern, with his wife Winnie Byanyima alleging his life is at risk due to inadequate medical care in prison. Besigye, 69, is experiencing severe stomach pain and dehydration, rendering him extremely frail, Byanyima said in a statement.
Byanyima, a prominent human rights advocate and head of UNAids, described finding Besigye in a dire state, struggling to walk and suffering intense leg pain. He was returned to a makeshift cell after a brief medical visit, fueling fears for his well-being.
The authorities maintain Besigye’s condition is stable, attributing his hospital visit to a routine check-up. However, his party, the People’s Front for Freedom, disputes this, citing lab results showing a worsening infection.
Besigye’s detention since November 2024 has drawn international attention, with his supporters decrying the charges against him as trumped-up and politically motivated. A court recently rejected his lawyers’ plea to transfer him to a better-equipped medical facility, citing lack of evidence his condition can’t be managed in prison.
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