KAMPALA, Uganda – Dr. Kizza Besigye’s lead lawyer, Martha Karua, has raised concern over her client’s health almost one year after he was detained at Luzira Maximum Prison.
Besigye, who recently missed a court appearance due to illness, prompting the High Court in Kampala to adjourn his trial to October 2, 2025, is being detained alongside his co-accused, Obeid Lutale.
Karua disclosed that when she, alongside her team, went to visit the duo in Luzira, Besigye, a four-time Ugandan presidential candidate, was too sick to make the journey up to the visiting area.
“Obeid Lutale was donning a facemask. He is recovering from the flu. He informed us that Besigye is unwell. He is having bouts of dizziness. He needs to be seen and diagnosed,” Karua said.
Karua, Kenya’s former Justice minister, disclosed that they had brought the matter to the attention of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who is part of the legal team representing Besigye, a former president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
“As the lawyer on record handling the matter, he (Lukwago) will be able to deal with it even when I return to Nairobi. The mayor, with his local team, should be able to take up the matter,” said Karua.
How Uganda Prisons reacted to Kizza Besigye’s health
She, however, observed that it was concerning that the health of Besigye had been greatly compromised by his lengthy and unnecessary incarceration.
“As you know, we applied for bail, but it was denied,” Karua added.
Despite media allegations that Besigye’s health has gotten worse, the Uganda Prisons continue to deny this.
During the weekend, there were widespread reports on social media that the 69-year-old was ill and “unable to support himself.”
He sparked political upheaval in the nation when several of his fans voiced their fear that the former presidential candidate would die.
“If Dr Besigye dies in prison (God forbid), it will mark the beginning of the real revolution,” wrote one Gideon Kwikiriza.
But according to Prison Services spokesperson Frank Baine, the reports were untrue and “propagated by Besigye’s lawyers.”
Why are Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale being detained
Baine said, “As far as I’m concerned, Besigye has no problem; it’s the same story since last November that he is sick, but he’s fine.”
“The lawyers are the ones who told me he was ill, and I don’t report to them. They claim he is ill and will pass away in prison. He would be long dead if he had passed away.
Besigye and Lutale were arrested in November 2024 after being abducted in Nairobi, Kenya and returned to Uganda.
They face charges of treason, illegal firearm possession, and soliciting foreign military support, per Ugandan authorities.
Bail has been denied multiple times, most recently in August 2025, due to flight risk concerns.
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