DR BESIGYE COLLAPSES IN COURT

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing URN, reported that opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye collapsed in court in Kampala on July 29, 2026, during proceedings in his treason trial. The outlet said he was taken from court by ambulance, with reports indicating he was first moved to Luzira and then to Mulago Hospital. Winnie Byanyima, described in the report as his spouse, said Besigye had needed urgent medical care and that his personal doctor had not been allowed to treat him.

The incident occurred after a tense exchange at the High Court Criminal Division over whether the trial should go ahead while disputes about legal representation remained unresolved. Justice Emmanuel Baguma ruled that Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale and retired Captain Denis Oola would proceed with three court-appointed lawyers: Sylvia Namawejje, Julius Sserwambala and Sarah Awelo. Besigye and Lutale objected, saying they were still pursuing lawyers of their own choice and a related application before another judge.

According to the report, prosecutors Thomas Jatiko and Richard Birivumbuka said the state was ready to begin and had brought its first witness. Besigye argued that fairness required more time to settle representation, review disclosures and prepare, particularly because of the seriousness of the charges. Capt. Oola reportedly accepted the appointed lawyers alongside his private counsel, while Besigye and Lutale declined to meet them.

The episode matters because it adds a medical emergency to an already high-profile case involving Besigye, a long-time Ugandan opposition figure, and raises renewed questions about trial readiness, court-appointed counsel and the constitutional right to legal representation in serious criminal proceedings.