KAMPALA. Jailed former Forum for Democratic Change President , Dr Kizza Besigye was Sunday evening rushed to a private clinic in Kampala’s Bugolobi suburb after his health deteriorated while inside his isolated room at Luzira Maximum Prison.
According to sources , Dr Besigye was driven in an ambulance and escort Prison vans at a neck-to-neck speed and when it reached Bugolobi Village Mall where The Clinic is located , he was quickly pushed in a wheel chair to access quick medical attention .
“Amidst very heavy security deployment, Dr Besigye has been brought to a clinic at Bugolobi Village Mall. The Clinic is called The Clinic on the 3rd Floor of the Mall. He was being pushed in a wheel chair ,” Francis Mwijukye , Buhweju County legislator and a confidant of Dr Besigye posted on his X formerly Twitter on Sunday evening
Earlier in the day, Minister of Information, Communications Technology, and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi had said he had paid a visit to the former Opposition strongman at Luzira prison.
During the visit, which was conducted in the presence of Besigye’s personal doctors, Dr Baryomunsi , said he had counseled the former and encouraged him to resume eating food after reportedly going on hunger strike for six days .
Dr Byaryomunsi’ s visit came as the government is working to transfer Besigye , his associate Hajj Obeid Lutale and other civilian-related cases from the court martial to the civil courts.
“I have given him counsel and asked him to resume taking food as the government fast tracks the transfer of his case from the court martial to a civil court,” Dr Baryomunsi stated on his X platform on February 16, 2025.
A few moments later, Dr Besigye’s wife Eng. Winnie Byanyima shot back, saying Dr Baryomunsi’s actions are “an insult and an abuse of her husband’s rights”.
“Mr Baryomunsi, your actions are an insult and an abuse of my husband’s rights. Dr Besigye was abducted and is being held captive by your government. As an NRM minister, you are not a concerned visitor—you are his captor,” she posted on her X .
Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential contender was arraigned at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court alongside activist Samuel Lubega Mukaaku last week on charges related to their alleged involvement in 2022 protests against the skyrocketing cost of living at Kikuubo /Shawurayako, a busy business hub in down town Kampala.
Dr Besigye, who appeared before Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya, looked frail due to his ongoing hunger strike, which he declared in protest of his continued incarceration despite a January 31 Supreme Court ruling halting the trial of civilians by the General Court Martial.
After photos of his court appearance circulated in the media, many commentators wondered why Dr Besigye was not allowed to seek medical attention since Buganda Court HAD already granted him bail in 2022.
Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale were on November 16, 2024 abducted from Nairobi. They resurfaced on November 20 when they were arraigned in General Court Martial in Kampala and charged with offences relating to security and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
They were remanded at Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala, where they are still detained even after the January 31, 2025 Supreme Court ruling that trying civilians in military courts is unconstitutional. On February 5, 2025, Dr Besigye’s lawyers filed a petition in the High Court in Kampala to have him and Mr Lutale produced before that court.