Opposition Alleges “Medical Neglect” as Health of Detained Ugandan Leader Kizza Besigye Sparks Controversy
KAMPALA – A fierce war of words has erupted over the health of Uganda’s leading opposition figure, Dr. Kizza Besigye, with his party, The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), accusing the state of “orchestrated medical neglect” and a senior government minister of unethical conduct.
In a strongly worded statement, the PFF expressed “profound outrage” at what it describes as the rapidly “deteriorating health” of the four-time presidential candidate, who is currently detained on charges including treason. The party claims the 69-year-old requires “urgent, specialized medical attention,” framing his treatment as a deliberate state strategy to “break his spirit.”
Minister’s Comments Draw Fire
The controversy intensified following comments by Uganda’s Minister for Information and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi. A medical doctor by profession, Baryomunsi publicly addressed Besigye’s condition, stating the detainee had been treated for a minor illness.
The PFF lambasted the minister, calling his remarks a “chillingly reckless” and “breach of medical ethics and humanity.” The opposition group accused Baryomunsi of using his platform to “lie and trivialize a life-threatening situation,” transforming from a “custodian of the sanctity of life” into a “mouthpiece for state-sponsored propaganda.”
A Contentious History and Legal Battle
The statement invoked a potent piece of shared history, reminding the public that Besigye once served as President Yoweri Museveni’s personal physician. “The very man they now seek to break… is the same man who once saved the life of Mr. Museveni,” the PFF declared.
Besigye was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024 and forcibly returned to Uganda. He faces serious charges that also include illegal possession of a firearm. His legal team has repeatedly sought bail and transfer to a private medical facility, requests that have been denied by the courts. The PFF condemns this as the “weaponization of the prison system and the courts,” asserting that “the law is not a tool for torture.”
Government Position and Wider Crackdown
The government maintains that Besigye is receiving adequate care. Minister Baryomunsi has previously stated that Besigye’s condition was not serious and that he is being monitored by prison doctors, including his own siblings who are physicians.
This case unfolds against a backdrop of sustained pressure on Uganda’s opposition. The PFF’s statement linked Besigye’s fate to other detained activists, using hashtags like #FreeHajjiObeid, #FreeSamMugumya, and #FreeSamuelMakokha. International human rights groups have consistently criticized the Ugandan government for allegedly using the judicial system to silence dissent, particularly following the contentious 2021 and 2026 elections.
The PFF vowed to continue its activism, stating, “We will not rest until Uganda is a truly democratic country where the rights of all… are sacrosanct.” The standoff over Besigye’s health has become the latest flashpoint in Uganda’s deeply polarized political landscape, raising urgent questions about prisoners’ rights and the ethical responsibilities of public officials.
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