A fundraising campaign to support detained opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye’s legal case and medical needs is continuing, with organisers saying contributions have reached Shs25 million.
Journalist and activist Jim Spire Ssentongo on Thursday urged members of the public to continue contributing to the campaign, sharing an update previously posted by lawyer and activist Agather Atuhaire.
Atuhaire said on September 14 that the #StandWithKizzaBesigye fundraiser had collected Shs25 million. She said the campaign had briefly paused while supporters mourned and buried the late Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
The fundraiser is intended to support Besigye, who has been in custody since November 2024 and is facing treason charges before the High Court in Kampala. Besigye has denied the charges.
The veteran opposition politician’s health has been a subject of concern in recent months. On July 29, 2026, Besigye collapsed during a court session and was taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, said at the time that he had been admitted to the intensive care unit.
He was later discharged from Mulago and returned to Luzira Prison Hospital on August 7, according to the Uganda Prisons Service. Prison spokesperson Frank Baine said Besigye was continuing treatment under the care of the prisons medical team and that his condition was improving.
On August 31, the Uganda Prisons Service confirmed that Besigye had again been taken from Luzira Prison to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) for medical attention. Officials said he was stable and dismissed reports that he was in critical condition.
The court has also taken steps to monitor his medical condition. On July 30, High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma ordered the Uganda Prisons Service to submit a medical report after prison authorities informed the court that Besigye was unwell and unable to attend proceedings in his treason trial.
International human rights organisations have also raised concerns about Besigye’s detention and access to medical care. Amnesty International said in February that Besigye had been held at Luzira for more than 400 days and required specialised medical attention.
Besigye, a former presidential candidate and longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was arrested after being returned to Uganda from Kenya in November 2024. He and his co-accused have denied the treason allegations.
The latest fundraising appeal comes as Besigye’s legal and health situation remains before the courts, with supporters continuing to mobilise financial assistance outside the formal legal process.
