Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has raised sharp questions over the circumstances under which opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye was transferred from Mulago National Referral Hospital back to Luzira Prison, following his recent stay in intensive care.
Besigye was admitted to Mulago after collapsing in court on July 29, where he was reported to be unconscious and unresponsive, according to multiple international reports.
His condition sparked concern among family, lawyers, and rights groups, with calls for specialised treatment outside the government facility.
However, his return to Luzira has triggered fresh controversy, with Ssemakadde questioning whether due medical and legal procedures were followed.
“Has Mulago Hospital released a statement detailing conditions under which Besigye left the hospital?” Ssemakadde posed, suggesting a lack of transparency in the transfer process.
He further argued that there is no public record indicating that the veteran opposition figure was formally discharged or referred to another medical facility.
“Clearly, he wasn’t discharged or referred, so how did he leave that hospital?” he asked.
The ULS president also questioned the role of the Health Ministry in the decision, directly referencing Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi.
“Is it Chris Baryomunsi, as Minister of Health, that sanctioned his transfer?” Ssemakadde added, raising concerns over potential political interference in a medical matter.
His remarks add to growing criticism from Besigye’s allies, who have maintained that the former presidential candidate was still in a fragile condition at the time of his removal from Mulago.