Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has confirmed that opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye is recovering after a dramatic collapse in court that triggered nationwide concern over his condition.
Baryomunsi, who visited Besigye at Mulago National Referral Hospital on Friday morning, said the veteran politician is responding well to treatment and remains under close medical supervision.
“I paid a visit to Dr Kiiza Besigye today morning at Mulago Hospital, where he is hospitalised. He is steadily recuperating and I wished him quick recovery. I thank the team of medical workers that are attending to him,” the minister said.
Besigye collapsed on July 29 during proceedings in a treason case, bringing the session to an abrupt halt.
Eyewitnesses reported that he appeared visibly distressed moments before falling in the dock, forcing security and court officials to intervene and rush him to hospital.
He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit at Mulago, where early reports indicated he was unconscious and unresponsive.
His condition quickly became a major political and public concern, drawing reactions from allies, rights groups, and opposition figures across Uganda.
Access to Besigye during his hospital stay has also been a point of contention, with some political associates alleging restrictions on visitation, further fuelling debate around his welfare and treatment.
Sources close to his family later indicated that he had been moved out of ICU but remained physically weak and under observation.
Baryomunsi’s latest remarks now provide the clearest government update, signalling gradual improvement in his condition.
Despite the reassurance, authorities have yet to release a detailed medical report explaining the cause of the collapse, leaving lingering questions among supporters and observers.
Besigye’s health crisis has added a new dimension to an already sensitive political case, with attention now shifting to both his recovery and the future of the ongoing court proceedings.