Senior Counsel Martha Karua has raised alarm over the worsening health of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, saying his condition has visibly declined as he remains in detention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday after attending court proceedings in Kampala, Karua said it has now been 465 days since Besigye was allegedly abducted from Nairobi.
She appeared before Justice Emmanuel Baguma as lead counsel for the veteran politician and said what she witnessed was disturbing.
“It has been 465 days since Dr Kizza Besigye was abducted from Nairobi. Today in Kampala, I appeared before Justice Emmanuel Baguma as lead counsel for Kizza Besigye. It is disheartening to see how his health is deteriorating,” Karua said.
She added that despite the strain on his health, she would continue to stand for human rights within Kenya and across the region.
Karua also sent a message of support to Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s spouse, commending her strength during what she described as a painful and prolonged period for the family.
On January 22, Winnie Byanyima warned that Besigye’s life was at risk.
''He is extremely weak,'' said Winnie Byanyima in a statement posted on X.
The 69-year-old was reportedly taken overnight to a medical facility, according to the People's Front for Freedom party, which did not disclose details of his illness.
Besigye is among the few politicians who have openly challenged President Yoweri Museveni’s long rule in Uganda. Over the years, he has contested the presidency four times — in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 — but lost each bid to the incumbent. In 2021, he did not run and instead supported opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Following the 2001 elections, Besigye left Uganda and lived in South Africa for four years, citing state persecution. He later returned and continued his political activism, serving as leader of the Forum for Democratic Change party.
His latest arrest took place on November 16, 2024, in Nairobi, where he had travelled to attend Karua’s book launch. Four days later, on November 20, he and Hajj Lutale were presented before a military court in Kampala facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm. Both denied the charges and were remanded at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
In January 2025, the military court ruled that Besigye could face trial for treachery. However, on January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda declared that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional, a decision that was not enforced in his case.
On February 11, Besigye began a hunger strike. He was admitted to hospital a few days later as concerns over his health deepened. Bobi Wine, Winnie Byanyima and his legal team have since described him as ill, dizzy and weak.
The Commonwealth and several human rights groups in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have called for his immediate release, citing concerns over his safety and well-being.
