KAMPALA, Uganda
A coalition of human rights organisations has urged Ugandan authorities to immediately release opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-counsel, Erias Lukwago, over concerns about their deteriorating health in state custody.
The call follows Besigye's collapse during a High Court session in Kampala on July 29, after which he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
In a statement, the Pan African Solidarity Network said Besigye, 70, was under military guard in hospital after collapsing in court, while Kampala Lord Mayor and lawyer Lukwago remained in Luzira Prison despite reportedly needing urgent specialised treatment.
The coalition described the pair's condition as a humanitarian emergency, alleging that both men had been denied adequate medical care while in detention.
"The world has been warned. Dr Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago must not be allowed to die in state custody," the statement read.
The coalition accused Ugandan authorities of denying the pair access to specialised medical care and that Besigye's continued detention followed his abduction from Nairobi in November 2024 and transfer to Kampala without following legal extradition procedures.
It also said the government ignored a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling in Uganda ordering Besigye’s release, and questioned the prosecution’s credibility, citing contradictions in the state’s evidence.
On Lukwago, the coalition said authorities had denied him specialised medical evacuation to India despite warnings from national referral doctors that his condition was life-threatening.
"Jailed on trumped-up treason charges, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (56) is experiencing severe systemic health failure. A medical evaluation from the Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital explicitly notes severe spinal complications and advanced hypertension," the statement said.
The coalition called on the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and Uganda's international partners to intervene by pressing for the immediate release of the two men, imposing targeted sanctions on officials it blamed for the alleged violations and suspending military assistance to Uganda.
"We call on the Government of Uganda, the African Union, the United Nations, Uganda's international partners, and all defenders of human rights to act immediately to secure their release, protect their lives, and uphold the rule of law. Every hour matters," the coalition urged.
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