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Besigye detention, trial and health adjournment

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-04 13:12 UTC → 2026-08-15 13:22 UTC · added removed

In June 2026 2026, Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled that civilians could not be tried in military courts, ordering transfer to civilian tribunals. The ruling did not free veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who remained detained after being abducted in Nairobi and charged with treason and firearms offences. Besigye filed a High Court application accusing Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba of death‑threatening posts and sought to halt yet the military‑court proceedings. The government responded by signing passing the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Amendment Act, reopening the possibility of military trials for civilians, drawing criticism from regional bodies civilians. Veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye remained detained on treason and rights groups. Besigye’s defence team firearms charges following his abduction in Nairobi. His legal defense faced systematic intimidation: lead significant setbacks, including the arrest of counsel Erias Lukwago was arrested on 15 June, and the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua was barred from entry and deported on 22 June, prompting condemnation from the East Africa Law Society. Karua. On 30 July July, Besigye collapsed in the dock, dock while protesting the appointment of state-appointed lawyers, shouting “stop” before falling unconscious. He was taken admitted to Mulago Hospital’s intensive‑care the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, reported that he was initially unresponsive to pain and remained unconscious unable to speak or write. While he showed limited improvement, such as his wife demanded treatment by his own physician. The hearing being able to consume soup after intravenous lines were removed, he was paused pending a medical fitness report, while a Ugandan human‑rights group lodged an urgent petition with the UN Human Rights Committee and Amnesty International called for his release and proper medical care. subsequently returned to prison custody. On 1 August the court August, Justice Emmanuel Baguma suspended the trial, ordering an updated medical assessment and setting a new hearing date for adjourning the case to 18 August. Justice Emmanuel Baguma warned that proceeding without Besigye would compromise August to ensure trial fairness. By mid-August, Besigye remained in custody. Byanyima has continued to call for his release to ensure access to necessary medical treatment, warning that “You challenge President Museveni and the whole might of the state will be turned against you.” Besigye continues to reject court‑appointed lawyers, insisting on representation of his own choosing, court-appointed lawyers and accuses the state of delaying the trial and withholding evidence. His wife reports he remains very weak, unable to speak and able to take only soup after intravenous lines were removed.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-15 13:22 UTC Besigye detention, trial and health adjournment
  2. 2026-08-04 13:12 UTC Besigye detention, trial and health adjournment
  3. 2026-08-04 11:04 UTC Besigye detention, trial and ICU collapse
  4. 2026-08-02 07:57 UTC Besigye detention, trial and ICU collapse
  5. 2026-07-30 12:38 UTC Besigye detention and legal crackdown
  6. 2026-07-30 08:32 UTC Besigye detention and legal crackdown
  7. 2026-07-29 15:05 UTC Besigye detention and legal crackdown

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