What changed
2026-09-01 08:34 UTC → 2026-09-03 10:36 UTC ·
added
removed
Besigye detention, trial and Lukwago health adjournment crisis and legal developments
In June 2026, Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled that civilians could not be tried in military courts, yet the government responded by passing the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Amendment Act, reopening the possibility As of military trials for civilians. Veteran late August 2026, opposition leader Kizza Besigye remained detained on treason and firearms charges following his abduction in Nairobi. His legal defense faced significant setbacks, including the arrest of counsel Erias Lukwago and the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua. On 30 July, Besigye collapsed remains in the dock while protesting the appointment of state-appointed lawyers, shouting “stop” before falling unconscious. He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, reported that he was initially unresponsive to pain and unable to speak or write. While he showed limited improvement, he was subsequently returned to prison custody. On 1 August, Justice Emmanuel Baguma suspended the trial, ordering an updated medical assessment and adjourning the case to 18 August. By late August, Besigye’s health had deteriorated further. Following a transfer severely weakened state following a medical emergency in court. After being transferred from Luzira Prison to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) hospital in Kampala, hospital, his wife partner, Winnie Byanyima, reported he remains in a severely weakened state, struggling to walk, speak, write, or hold objects. The family has expressed concerns regarding chronic complications involving his lungs and spine, which they suggest have been exacerbated by prison conditions. Byanyima has renewed her appeal for Besigye to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, for specialized medical treatment, while the treason trial continues in his absence. As of to struggle with basic physical functions. On 31 August, reports indicated that Besigye and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago are reportedly were expected to meet Senior Presidential Advisor Gen. Salim Saleh at his Kapeeka base. This meeting is viewed as a government effort to resolve the ongoing treason and misprision of treason cases involving the two figures. By 3 September, the health situation for both leaders reportedly reached a critical point. The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) reported that Besigye was moved to the JCRC Hospital due to his fragile condition. Simultaneously, Erias Lukwago was reportedly rushed from Murchison Bay Prison to an undisclosed medical facility after his health critically worsened. The PFF has accused state authorities and the judiciary of failing to respond to previous requests for medical bail, citing the age and deteriorating health of the detainees.