Ugandan Opposition Leader Besigye in Critical Condition After Court Collapse

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Kizza Besigye, Ugandan opposition leader

Al Jazeera - Winnie Byanyima, Besigye's wife and Executive Director of UNAIDS

AP News - Erias Lukwago, Besigye's main attorney

AP News - Ingrid Turinawe, close confidant of Besigye

AP News - Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda

AP News - Muhoozi Kainerugaba, military chief and son of Yoweri Museveni

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - Kizza Besigye collapsed during a court hearing and is reported to be ‘unconscious’ in hospital.

Al Jazeera - Besigye has been in prison since late 2024 on treason charges.

Al Jazeera - Besigye is in the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

AP News - Besigye fell in the dock while protesting his trial without lawyers of his own choosing.

AP News - Besigye's family claims he needs special treatment and does not trust the government hospital.

AP News - Prosecutors are presenting evidence to prove that Besigye plotted to overthrow the government.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

AP News - Courtroom in Uganda where Besigye collapsed

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - Besigye collapsed during a courtroom session on Wednesday.

AP News - Besigye has been in custody since November 2024.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - Besigye's charges are claimed to be politically motivated as part of a crackdown on opponents by Museveni.

AP News - Besigye's political party asserts that the charges against him are fake and politically motivated.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Besigye protested against his trial by crying out that he was being injured before collapsing.

AP News - Besigye's main attorney was detained and charged with failure to report acts of treason.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 06:07 UTC)

Kizza Besigye, the Ugandan opposition leader, has collapsed during a courtroom session and is now reported to be unconscious in the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. Besigye has been in custody since November 2024 on treason charges that his political party claims are politically motivated, and he fell while protesting his trial without lawyers of his own choosing. His family has expressed concerns about the treatment he is receiving at the government hospital, emphasizing that he requires special care.