Jailed Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye is undergoing speech and physical therapy to regain his ability to speak and walk, according to former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, who has shared an emotional account of a recent visit to the veteran politician.
Nyanjura, who serves as Head of Special Interest Groups for the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), described seeing the 70-year-old receiving assistance with basic speech and walking exercises. In a statement posted on her official X account on October 20, 2026, she detailed the challenges Besigye is reportedly facing during his recovery.
According to Nyanjura, a speech therapist was helping Besigye practise simple words using charts featuring terms such as “dog” and “boy.”
“It broke my heart to see that he is now being taught how to walk and talk again,” she wrote.
The account offered a sobering picture of the opposition figure’s reported condition nearly three months after he collapsed in court and was admitted to intensive care.
Nyanjura said Besigye’s hearing remains intact, but he is currently unable to speak. Instead, he reportedly relies on an alphabetical chart to communicate, spelling out words one letter at a time so that people around him can understand his messages.
When he becomes tired, he uses sign language to communicate.
His physical difficulties also appear significant. Nyanjura reported that Besigye’s hands shake, making it difficult for him to hold everyday objects, including a bottle of water.
Despite these challenges, she said his mental sharpness and sense of humour remain intact.
During their conversation, Nyanjura expressed shock at the extent of his condition. Besigye reportedly tapped out a reassuring response, telling her that “it could have been worse.”
The exchange provided a glimpse into how the former presidential candidate is communicating with visitors while undergoing rehabilitation.
Nyanjura also revealed that Besigye does not remember the precise events surrounding his collapse in court. According to her account, his recollection resumes days later, when he regained consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
During the visit, she briefed him on the condition of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who is also receiving treatment at the hospital. The two political leaders have not yet managed to meet, she said.
Even as he continues his reported recovery, Besigye has remained engaged with Uganda’s political situation. Nyanjura said he described the country as though it had been taken back to the 1890s.
He also reportedly remarked that staying alive under the current political regime was an achievement in itself, while urging supporters to remain resilient.
Besigye has been in custody since November 2024, when he and his aide, Obeid Lutale, were arrested in Kenya and returned to Uganda. They were subsequently charged with treason alongside UPDF Captain Denis Oola.
All three have denied the charges. Their lawyers and political allies have described the case as politically motivated.
Nyanjura ended her update by asking the public to keep Besigye in their thoughts and prayers as he continues his recovery.
Editorial note: The health details in this article are based on Nyanjura’s account of her visit. The supplied material does not include an independent medical statement confirming Besigye’s diagnosis, current clinical status or rehabilitation prognosis.