- Former Kampala deputy lord mayor Doreen Nyanjura visited opposition leader Kizza Besigye and shared a detailed account of his condition
- Besigye, who collapsed during his treason trial, is undergoing speech therapy and communicates by tapping letters on an alphabet chart
- Despite his physical condition, Besigye told his visitor that staying alive under the current regime is itself an achievement
Nancy Odindo is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Odindo has over six years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2023.
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye is relearning how to walk and speak three months after he collapsed and lost consciousness during his treason trial in Kampala, according to a first-hand account shared by former Kampala deputy lord mayor Doreen Nyanjura on Tuesday, October 20.
Source: Facebook
Nyanjura visited Besigye at the facility where he is being held and described his condition in a lengthy post on X, saying the encounter was deeply distressing despite his mental sharpness remaining intact.
Besigye's current medical condition
A speech therapist is working with the 70-year-old politician using a word chart containing basic words such as "dog" and "boy," which he attempts to pronounce, though Nyanjura said he has not yet succeeded.
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"Before meeting him, I had imagined so many things about his appearance and current condition. It broke my heart to see that he is now being taught how to walk and talk again," she said.
When verbal communication becomes too difficult, Besigye relies on an alphabetical letter chart, tapping out individual letters for visitors to piece together. He has also learned sign language as an additional means of expression.
"He hears very well, but he is not able to talk yet. I commended his sharp brain of being able to communicate by tapping letters of alphabet," she added.
Nyanjura noted that Besigye's hands are weak and unsteady, leaving him unable to hold a bottle of water independently.
He also cannot recall the exact sequence of events in court on the day he collapsed and said his first memory after that moment was waking up days later in the intensive care unit at Mulago Hospital.
Despite the gravity of his physical state, Nyanjura said Besigye's mind remained alert and engaged. The two shared moments of laughter during the visit, including when he reviewed her notes and found she had misread the letters he had tapped.
When she ran out of explanations for her errors, she told him her eyesight was poor, prompting more laughter between them.
Besigye's message to supporters
Besigye communicated a message to those following his situation, telling Nyanjura that the country had returned to conditions reminiscent of the 1890s.
He urged supporters to hold on, adding that simply remaining alive under the present government was itself an achievement. When Nyanjura expressed visible shock at his condition, he indicated that it could have been worse.
"Seeing KB in the state he is, was incredibly painful, but his enduring spirit and sharp mind remind me why he is the leader he is. Please keep KB in your thoughts and prayers as he walks this long, difficult road to recovery. His resilience gives me hope that we will get through this dark chapter. Long live KB," Nyanjura said.
Nyanjura also informed Besigye that the detained Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who was also taken to Mulago Hospital, is now a neighbour at the same facility, though the two have not met.
Why was Besigye arrested?
Meanwhile, Besigye has been in detention since November 2024, following his abduction in Kenya and subsequent transfer to Uganda.
Source: Facebook
He and his aide, Obeid Lutale, face treason charges, which both deny. Prosecutors allege the pair conspired to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni's government.
Kenya had also denied involvement in his dramatic abduction, which occurred after he attended an event in Nairobi. The opposition leader had contested against Museveni in four presidential elections.
Source: TUKO.co.ke