Besigye learning to walk and talk again after ICU stay, reveals Doreen Nyanjura

Former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura has revealed that jailed veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye is undergoing speech and physical therapy to regain his mobility and voice, three months after he collapsed in court and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Ms Nyanjura, who currently serves as the Head of Special Interest Groups for the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), shared details of her emotional visit to the opposition figure in a statement posted on her official X account on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Describing her first meeting with Dr Besigye since his sudden breakdown, Ms Nyanjura noted the stark reality of his health status compared to her initial expectations, recounting how a speech therapist was guiding the 70-year-old politician through basic exercises using simple word charts containing words like "dog" and "boy".

"It broke my heart to see that he is now being taught how to walk and talk again," Ms Nyanjura stated, adding that while Dr Besigye’s hearing remains intact, he is currently unable to speak and relies on alternative methods to communicate.

To bridge the communication gap, the four-time presidential candidate relies on an alphabetical chart to spell out words letter by letter for visitors to write down, alongside using sign language when tired. Ms Nyanjura noted that despite his limited physical strength and shaky hands, which prevent him from holding basic items like a bottle of water, Dr Besigye maintained a remarkably sharp mind and a lighthearted spirit throughout the interaction.

When Ms Nyanjura expressed shock at his condition, Dr Besigye tapped out a reassuring message, telling her that "it could have been worse."

Recounting his memory of the incident, Ms Nyanjura stated that Dr Besigye does not recall the exact events that led to his collapse in court, only remembering waking up days later inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital. During the visit, Ms Nyanjura also briefed him on the health status of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who is currently receiving treatment in the same facility, though the two leaders have not yet been able to meet.

Despite his physical setbacks, Dr Besigye offered a brief commentary on the country's political climate, remarking that Uganda feels as though it has been reverted to the 1890s and observing that staying alive under the current regime is an achievement in itself. He encouraged his supporters to remain resilient through the current hardships.

Ms Nyanjura concluded her update by appealing to the public to keep Dr Besigye in their thoughts and prayers as he navigates his rehabilitation, expressing optimism that his enduring resilience serves as a beacon of hope for his followers.

Dr Besigye has been in custody since November 2024 after he and his aide, Obeid Lutale, were arrested in Kenya and returned to Uganda, where they were charged with treason alongside UPDF Capt Denis Oola. All accused persons have denied the charges, which their legal teams and political allies describe as politically motivated.

The opposition icon collapsed during a high-profile session at the High Court in Kampala where he was protesting the trial proceedings following the expulsion of his lead counsel, Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, who was declared persona non grata, and the subsequent arrest of co-counsel Erias Lukwago.

"I will not continue with this criminal court. We shall not allow this court process, [Judge] Emmanuel Baguma. I will not allow you to continue abusing our country and the Constitution," an angry Dr Besigye had said before collapsing after repeatedly banging on the dock.

Following his collapse, his wife, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, disclosed that he had been rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital in critical condition.

"He is unconscious, unable to speak, and unresponsive even to a pain stimulus. Before he collapsed, he cried out that he was being injured," Ms Byanyima said at the time, criticizing the state of his detention and court proceedings.

Ms Byanyima has also firmly dismissed reports claiming that behind-the-scenes negotiations coordinated by Gen Salim Saleh were underway to secure her husband's release.

"There are no negotiations for Kizza Besigye’s release. His health and his rights are not matters for negotiation," Ms Byanyima stated, emphasizing that the court process amounts to persecution rather than prosecution, particularly as proceedings continue in Dr Besigye's absence despite medical reports indicating he is unfit for trial.

The trial before Justice Emmanuel Baguma recently saw the admission of prosecution transcripts from audio recordings allegedly linking the accused to treasonous discussions in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi. The transcripts were admitted as Prosecution Exhibit 3 despite acknowledgement from Makerere University language specialist Medadi Ssentanda that portions of the original recordings were inaudible and lacked exact timestamps.

As Dr Besigye continues his rehabilitation, political figures and international human rights organizations—including the Commonwealth—have renewed calls for his release and the upholding of his constitutional rights to fair trial and medical care.