Adam Ampa Besigye has issued an urgent appeal for his detained father, veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, to be allowed immediate access to independent medical treatment, warning that continued delays could have fatal consequences.
In a message shared on social media, Adam said his father’s health is being put at serious risk while in state custody, arguing that access to proper medical care is a fundamental human right that should not be denied under any circumstances.
He described Dr Besigye as a political detainee and insisted that he must be permitted to seek medical attention from doctors of his own choice, rather than relying on arrangements controlled by the state.
Adam accused authorities of deliberately delaying treatment and keeping information about his father’s condition secret, actions he said threaten his life. He questioned whether the state can be trusted with his father’s wellbeing, using a metaphor to illustrate his fear over the situation.
The younger Besigye said the case should not be viewed through a political lens alone, but as a matter of humanity and basic rights. He called on Ugandans and the international community to pay close attention, warning that silence could have grave consequences.
“This is about life, dignity and the right to proper care,” he said, adding that no government has the moral right to gamble with someone’s health or life.
He concluded by appealing for protection, medical care and respect for his father’s right to live like any other citizen.
Dr Kizza Besigye, 69, is a four-time presidential candidate and one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures. He has been in detention since November 2024 and is facing serious charges, including treason, over allegations that he was involved in a long-running plot to overthrow the government through force, both within and outside Uganda.
