ADAM Ampa Besigye, son of detained Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, has issued an urgent appeal to President Yoweri Museveni and the international community to grant his father immediate access to independent medical care after he fell ill while in custody.
In a public statement, Adam Ampa Besigye described his father as “a political prisoner who must be granted immediate access to independent medical care of his choosing,” warning that “deliberate delays and secrecy under detention endanger his life.”
“My father can’t be left in the hands of those who desperately thirst and dream of his life,” he wrote, directly appealing to Ugandans, international communities, and human rights defenders not to look away.
The emotional plea emphasised that healthcare is a fundamental human right, stating: “No government has the moral authority to gamble with a human life, and no amount of desperation and starvation for political power justifies denying someone proper medical care.”
Adam Ampa Besigye characterised the situation as “political persecution entangled with deep layers in a history of personal unresolved issues that have politically manifested over the decades,” which he said he has “silently observed as a child and now into my adulthood.”
“It is about life, dignity, and basic human rights,” he said. “My father deserves care, protection, and the right to live just as any other citizen.”
The appeal follows a similar plea from Dr Besigye’s wife, who has also called on President Museveni to ensure proper medical treatment as the opposition leader’s health deteriorates in detention.
Dr Kizza Besigye, a longtime political rival of President Museveni, has been detained multiple times over the years.
