Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition figure and four-time presidential candidate, has been formally charged with treason on Friday, intensifying his ongoing legal challenges. The charges stem from allegations that he conspired to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing government through forceful means.
Appearing in a Kampala courtroom on Friday, the 68-year-old Besigye, visibly frail and seated in a wheelchair, faced accusations that carry the death penalty under Ugandan law. His detention began on November 16, 2024, after he disappeared in Nairobi, Kenya. Subsequently, he was presented before a military tribunal in Uganda’s capital, charged with offenses including illegal possession of firearms and soliciting military support abroad to destabilize national security.
In January 2025, Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, leading to the transfer of Besigye’s case to a civilian judicial system. Despite this decision, he remained incarcerated in a maximum-security prison, during which he initiated a hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention.
Recent court sessions have highlighted concerns over Besigye’s health, with his legal team advocating for his release on compassionate grounds. Erias Lukwago, Besigye’s attorney, described the charges as politically motivated and confirmed that his client has ended his hunger strike following the formal arraignment in a civilian court.
President Museveni has dismissed calls for clemency, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations. He has urged for a swift trial to bring the facts to light. The situation has drawn international attention, with Amnesty International condemning Besigye’s detention as a violation of international human rights law and calling for his immediate release.
This development occurs against a backdrop of political uncertainty in Uganda, as the nation approaches its presidential elections next year. Speculation abounds regarding a potential succession, with some observers suggesting that President Museveni may step aside in favor of his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kainerugaba has publicly accused Besigye of plotting to assassinate his father, further intensifying the political climate.
Besigye, a former military officer and physician, once served as Museveni’s personal doctor before becoming one of his most vocal critics. His political journey has been marked by multiple arrests and charges, none of which have led to a conviction. Uganda, since gaining independence six decades ago, has yet to witness a peaceful transfer of presidential power.