Ugandan Opposition Leader's Military Trial Dropped as Health Worsens

Kizza Besigye, on hunger strike since February 10, is transferred to a civilian court after public outcry over his detention and deteriorating condition.

• Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader, has been moved from a military trial to a civilian court following a Supreme Court ruling deeming military trials for civilians unconstitutional.
• Besigye has been on a hunger strike since February 10 to protest his detention, which his lawyers claim involved his forceful return to Uganda from Kenya and illegal charges of firearm possession and threatening state security.
• His health has significantly deteriorated, and he was transported to a medical clinic in Kampala under heavy security after appearing visibly frail in court last week.
• Rights groups, including Amnesty International, and opposition figures have condemned his detention as a violation of human rights and called for his release ahead of Uganda's 2026 presidential elections.
• Besigye's wife, Winnie Byanyima, has criticized government officials' actions, labeling them suspicious and holding them accountable for his condition.

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Al Jazeera