---
title: "Detained Uganda opposition politician on hunger strike moved to hospital, lawmaker says"
description: "KAMPALA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who went on a hunger strike last week, has been rushed to hospital after his health deteriorated, said an allied lawmaker and a local television broadcaster."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Kizza Besigye"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-17-detained-uganda-opposition-politician-on-hunger-strike-moved-to-hospital-lawmaker-says/"
published: "2025-02-17T13:27:04"
updated: "2025-02-17T13:27:06"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 318
---

# Detained Uganda opposition politician on hunger strike moved to hospital, lawmaker says

> KAMPALA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who went on a hunger strike last week, has been rushed to hospital after his health deteriorated, said an allied lawmaker and a local television broadcaster.

By Reuters · Published 17 February 2025, 15:27 SAST · Updated 17 February 2025, 15:27 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic turn of events, Uganda's opposition stalwart Kizza Besigye, once a thorn in President Museveni's side, finds himself wheelchair-bound and under heavy guard at a Kampala clinic, as public outcry grows over his alleged "kidnapping" and deteriorating health while the government scrambles to shift his military trial to civilian courts.
- Opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has been detained in Uganda since November, following his alleged "kidnapping" from Kenya.
- Besigye was charged with illegal weapons possession in a military court, but the government is now transferring his case to civilian courts.
- Reports indicate Besigye's health is deteriorating, with family members expressing concern over his condition after a recent court appearance.
- Public outrage is growing, with calls for Besigye's release and access to medical care, supported by fellow opposition figures and medical associations.

## Content

A long-time political opponent and critic of President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye has been in detention at a maximum security facility in the capital Kampala since November.

His lawyers say he was ["kidnapped"](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3MR08T&linkedFromStory=true) in neighbouring Kenya where he had travelled and forcefully transported back to Uganda, where he was charged in the military's General Court Martial (GCM) with various offences including illegal weapons possession.

"Amidst very heavy security deployment, Dr. Besigye has been brought to a clinic at Bugolobi Village Mall," Francis Mwijukye, a lawmaker allied with Besigye, said in a post on the X platform late on Sunday, referring to a vast shopping mall in the Bugolobi suburb of Kampala.

"He was being pushed in a wheel chair."

The local NTV broadcaster also reported late on Sunday that Besigye had been taken to the health facility and that the area was under "tight security".

NTV quoted a family member as saying Besigye "is not in a good situation, the situation is bad".

Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi said in a post on the X social media platform late on Sunday that the government was fast tracking the transfer of his case to civilian courts, effectively ending his military prosecution.

Last month Uganda's Supreme Court in a ruling said civilians should not be prosecuted in military courts, calling it unconstitutional.

Many Ugandans, including fellow opposition leader, pop star Bobi Wine and a medical doctors association, took to social media over the weekend to express outrage and demand Besigye's release and unrestricted access to him by his doctors.

The public anger and calls for his release mounted after Besigye was brought to court on Friday and appeared visibly weak, walking with difficulty and struggling to move his tongue to moisten his dry lips. His lawyers told local media last week after visiting him in prison that his health was deteriorating.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa and Michael Perry)