/ / UGANDA: OPPOSITION LEADER NEEDS URGENT MEDICAL CARE

UGANDA: OPPOSITION LEADER NEEDS URGENT MEDICAL CARE

UA: Second 100.24

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Ugandan opposition politician and former presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change, Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has now been held in arbitrary detention at Luzira Prison in Kampala, Uganda, for over 400 days, is seriously ill, requiring urgent specialized medical attention, and away from detention conditions that Amnesty International considers inhumane. He was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya on November 16, 2024, forcefully returned to Uganda and arraigned at a military court in Kampala on November 20, 2024.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: August 12, 2026

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Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

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Remember to send your letter by August 12, 2026.

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Sample Letter

Dear President Museveni,

I am writing to express great concern about the deteriorating health of Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been arbitrarily detained for over 400 days in Luzira prison, Kampala. Dr. Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya on November 16, 2024, forcefully returned to Uganda and despite being a civilian, arraigned at a military court in Kampala on November 20, 2024, on terrorism-related offenses and illegal possession of weapons charges in the run up to the 2026 presidential elections.

I am further deeply concerned that Dr. Kizza Besigye is gravely unwell, is currently not able to speak properly, and needs urgent specialized medical care, which is being restricted by the Ugandan prison authorities. On January 20, 2026, he was rushed to his personal doctor’s clinic in Kampala after his health condition deteriorated.

During his detention, Dr. Kizza Besigye has been held in solitary confinement, barred from speaking to other prisoners, denied the right to worship with other prisoners, and prevented from engaging in basic physical activities. He is confined to a tiny and extremely hot cell with little sunlight, sleeps on a small mattress infested with bedbugs, and is subjected to conditions that under international law are cruel and degrading.

I urge you to immediately release Dr Besigye and halt these legal proceedings against him. Pending that, I urge you to grant him access to specialized medical care under his personal doctor and under his family’s watch and ensure an effective investigation is carried out into Dr Besigye’s abduction.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Sample Social Post

Dr. Kizza Besigye has been arbitrarily detained for 400+ days in Luzira prison. I urge @kagutamuseveni to release him and halt proceedings. Until then, grant him specialized medical care under his doctor and family’s watch. #UrgentActionNetwork

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Step 2

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Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Parliament of Uganda

Parliament Avenue

Kampala, Uganda

[email protected] [email protected] @kagutamuseveni

and

CC: Embassy of Uganda in the United States, Head of Mission Robie Kakonge

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

5911 16th Street, NW,

Washington DC 20011

[email protected] [email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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First UA Issued: [Uganda 100.24]

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