Veteran Ugandan Leader Collapses in Court, ICU Calls for Medical Freedom

Kizza Besigye, 70, was admitted to an intensive care unit in Kampala after collapsing unconscious during a high‑court hearing of a treason case.

Byanyima, the UN’s UNAIDS head, posted on X that Besigye is “unresponsive” and will not allow government doctors to touch him, demanding private medical care instead.

Besigye’s legal representation is compromised: his main lawyer, Erias Lukwago, is jailed; Kenyan counsel Martha Karua was barred from entering Uganda.

The ICU treatment was guarded by heavily armed officers, though Besigye’s sister, a doctor, was reportedly allowed to visit after initial refusal.

The situation highlights how political repression jeopardizes health security, potentially obstructing broader climate resilience efforts that rely on stable governance and equitable access to medical care.