The atmosphere was somber at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court on Wednesday as four-time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye appeared visibly frail and struggling for air. His weakness, reportedly as a result of a seven-day hunger strike that his supporters claim, prompted his followers to weep and express concern and once again raise an eyebrow at his extended detention despite a Supreme Court order that he be freed.

Dr. Besigye, Uganda’s top opposition leader, was arrested on November 16 last year and accused of treason in a military court. Last month, the Supreme Court issued a decision that civilians were not to be tried in military courts, something that should have led to his release. Dr. Besigye remains under detention at Luzira Prison, an action that gravely questions the enforcement of the court decision and the level of judicial autonomy in the nation.

During the time of court appearance, Besigye’s condition was concerning. Supporters and sympathizers who appeared at the hearing described him as weak, struggling to breathe, and in a “sorry state.” Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, a long-time loyalist, took to social media to post her distress. “Our leader @kizzabesigye1 is clearly not well, he is struggling to breathe and is in a sorry state. This hurts and is difficult to process! she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Her feelings were those of many in the audience, some of whom struggled to hold back tears as they saw the once-vibrant leader so weak. Ronald Muhinda, Besigye’s aide, was clearly shaken during the court session. “PAINFUL! As a person I admire, I will not go visit Kizza Besigye behind bars because I do not like seeing him in yellow uniform.”. In court today, seeing him in this state left me in tears,” he posted.

Muhinda did not stop there; he gave a scathing rant against President Yoweri Museveni and his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accusing them of being behind Besigye’s prolonged detention.

The Uganda Prisons Service has brushed aside reports of Besigye being on hunger strike, and claims that he is healthy and in good spirits at Luzira Prison. The claims are, however, disputed by the witness accounts of his friends and the visible signs of his deteriorating health in court. The conflicting claims have further raised the level of frustration and indignation among his supporters, who perceive his ongoing detention as an egregious disrespect for the rule of law. Political analyst and journalist Yusuf Sserunkuma warned that the situation could have serious consequences for the country. “Whoever is calling the shots to continue incarcerating Dr. Kizza Besigye is risking all of us,” he wrote. “Museveni’s son, folks at CMI, ISO, UPDF, or wherever & whoever – this is very risky gambling. We’ll all burn. Dr. Besigye is not the enemy. Dr. Besigye is unwell.

Stop these games.” Sserunkuma’s remark highlights the rising tension and fear of Besigye’s arrest resulting in growing political instability in Uganda. Besigye’s case has been the central issue in the present controversy regarding judicial independence and freedoms of the political arena in Uganda. The Supreme Court ruling in his favor was seen as a rare victory for the rule of law, but the government’s refusal to free him has contradicted that victory, casting a shadow over the judiciary to operate independently.

Most Ugandans now question whether the courts can actually hold government accountable, especially in high-profile politics cases.

The Opposition leader’s deteriorating health has also highlighted the conditions under which he is being held. Though prison officials say that he is being properly treated, his account in his own words and his evident frailty indicate otherwise. The situation has also infuriated human rights activists, who are calling for his release and proper medical care.