Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye's health stalls treason trial

Dr. Kizza Besigye, the 70‑year‑old opposition figure on a treason charge in Uganda, collapsed during a court hearing on 30 July and was admitted to intensive care at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. His wife reported he was "very weak" and unable to speak, while UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima observed that he could only take soup after intravenous lines were removed. Besigye’s supporters say his right to proper medical care and a fair trial are being ignored.

The court halted the proceedings on 1 August. Justice Emmanuel Baguma ordered an updated medical report from the hospital and adjourned the case to 18 August, noting that continuing without Besigye would compromise trial fairness. Besigye has rejected court‑appointed lawyers, insisting on representation of his own choosing, and has accused the state of delaying the trial and withholding evidence.