TIGHTLY GUARDED PATIENT: PFF Leader Detained for Wandering Near Dr Besigye’s ICU Ward Says He Had Gone to Check on Patient on the Same Hospital Floor

KAMPALA — Moses Mukose, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) Governor for the Busoga Sub-region, has been released on police bond after spending a night in detention over allegations that he was “wandering” near the intensive care unit where opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye is admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Mukose was arrested on Saturday evening on the sixth floor of Mulago Hospital’s VIP wing, where Besigye remains under heavy security after being rushed to the Intensive Care Unit following his collapse during his treason trial last week.

Security personnel intercepted Mukose before handing him over to officers at Mulago Police Station, accusing him of disobeying lawful orders.

According to Mukose, he had gone to the sixth floor to check on his father-in-law, who is also admitted there as a patient. However, security officers reportedly accused him of having been sent by opposition activist Ingrid Turinawe to monitor security deployment around Besigye’s ward.

He was released on police bond on Sunday and directed to report back to police on August 10.

The arrest sparked widespread condemnation from opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights activists, who questioned the legality of detaining a hospital visitor.

Human rights lawyer Kiiza Eron, who spoke to Mukose while he was in custody, said police informed him that he was being held for “disobeying lawful orders.”

“Police claim they are holding him for ‘disobeying lawful orders.’ It appears no one is permitted to move freely or be near that floor. Immediately afterwards, security personnel approached him and alleged that he had been sent by Ingrid Turinawe to spy on them. This is most uncalled for. RELEASE,” Kiiza posted.

PFF lawyer and Head of Mobilisation Nkonge Charles Tesigulwa also questioned the basis of the arrest.

“The PFF Busoga Federal State Governor Dr. Moses Mukose is being detained at Mulago Police. He had gone to the 6th floor where Dr. Besigye is admitted. He is being detained over disobeying lawful orders. I don’t know which orders exactly,” Tesigulwa said.

Politician and human rights activist Sarah Apale described the arrest as further evidence of the extraordinary restrictions surrounding Besigye’s hospitalisation.

“While Dr. Kizza Besigye lies in ICU, the Governor of Busoga Sub-region was violently dragged from the 6th floor, detained at Mulago Police, and charged with being unlawful—for checking on a sick man. Dr. Mukose is also under threat,” she wrote.

Opposition activist Simon Wanyera noted that access to the sixth floor has effectively been sealed off by security personnel.

“As I mentioned to you on Thursday night, the public is not allowed to move around or be near the floor, ward or wing where Dr. Kizza Besigye is being held, as it is heavily guarded by armed men.”

Mukose’s son, journalist Arnold Anthony Mukose, also criticised the arrest.

“Imagine my Dr. Mzee Mukose Moses being charged with a ridiculous offence of wandering about the 6th Floor Mulago Hospital VIP wing. I had never heard of such an offence.”

By Monday morning, police had not issued a detailed statement explaining the specific offence allegedly committed by Mukose or the conditions attached to his police bond.

The incident has intensified concerns over the tight security cordon around Besigye, who has remained in state custody since late 2024 while facing treason charges. Supporters argue that the security operation has gone beyond protecting the detained opposition leader and is now restricting ordinary hospital visitors and family members, raising fresh questions about access, civil liberties and the treatment of those seeking to visit patients in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Winnie Byanyima was expected to return to Uganda to take care of Besigye after she was blocked from a phone brief by Mulago Doctors, as reported Here.

You can read the latest update on Dr Besigye’s health condition Here.