Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has reportedly collapsed inside court while protesting proceedings in his treason trial before High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma, according to Doreen Nyanjura, the former Kampala Capital City Deputy Lord Mayor and a leader in Besigye’s People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
Nyanjura said Besigye collapsed as he protested the conduct of proceedings in the case, raising fresh concerns about the veteran opposition politician’s health while in custody.
She further alleged that Besigye’s personal doctor has been denied access to him following the incident.
A video shared online shows Besigye shouting ‘STOP! STOP! STOP…’ as another voice in court rambled on with allegations against Besigye.
The reported incident comes amid increasingly tense proceedings in Besigye’s long-running criminal case before Justice Baguma.
Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale and UPDF Captain Denis Oola, are facing treason charges in the High Court Criminal Division. The High Court has previously rejected attempts by Besigye and Lutale to halt the proceedings and ordered the case to move forward.
The defence has repeatedly raised concerns over Besigye’s right to a fair trial, access to his preferred lawyers and his treatment while in custody. Besigye and Lutale have insisted on being represented by their preferred legal team, led by Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Besigye’s health has also been a longstanding concern. In February, his wife, Winnie Byanyima, publicly warned that his health was deteriorating after more than a year in detention and amid delays in the commencement of his trial.
The latest reported collapse, if confirmed, could further intensify scrutiny of the conditions under which the veteran opposition leader is being held and the handling of his medical care.
Nyanjura’s allegation that Besigye’s personal doctor was denied access could not immediately be independently verified.
The development comes at a particularly sensitive moment in the case, with the court having previously directed proceedings to continue despite repeated objections from Besigye’s defence team.
Last week, there claims that the State Mzungu Witness Andrew Orlando Wilson was a MERCENARY FOR HIRE who was Reportedly Paid $3m to Fake Evidence Against Besigye, as detailed Here.
There were also claims that the Mzungu witness had destroyed the original audio recordings Here.