Embattled opposition leader Kizza Besigye is undergoing rehabilitation to learn how to walk and talk again after collapsing three months ago, former Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura has revealed.
Nyanjura said she met Besigye for the first time since his collapse and was shocked by his current condition, revealing that although he can hear clearly, he is still unable to speak and struggles to perform some basic tasks independently.
In a post shared on X, Nyanjura said she had imagined several things about Besigye’s appearance and health before meeting him, but seeing him undergoing rehabilitation was deeply painful.
“It broke my heart to see that he is now being taught how to walk and talk again,”Nyanjura said.
She revealed that Besigye was working with a speech therapist who used a chart containing simple words such as dog and boy to help him practise speaking, although he had not yet managed to pronounce them successfully.
Despite his inability to speak, Nyanjura said Besigye could hear well and communicate by tapping letters on an alphabetical chart, allowing people around him to piece together the words he wanted to express.
She said Besigye appeared to notice her shock at his condition and responded by spelling out that it could have been worse.
The meeting also had moments of laughter as Nyanjura struggled to interpret the letters Besigye tapped on the chart.
“We both would laugh when he would check my notes and realise I had written something completely different from what he was spelling out,”she said.
Nyanjura said she eventually blamed some of the mistakes on her eyesight, explaining that she wears glasses, which prompted more laughter between them.
She added that Besigye had also learned sign language and sometimes used gestures when he became tired of communicating through the alphabetical chart.
“He hears very well, but he is not able to talk yet,” Nyanjura said.
She also recounted how she offered Besigye a bottle of water during their conversation but was reminded that he could not hold it independently because his hands were shaky and lacked strength.
Nyanjura further revealed that Besigye could not clearly remember what had happened during the court proceedings preceding his medical emergency. According to her, he remembered waking up days later in the intensive care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
During their conversation, Besigye reportedly expressed concern about Uganda’s political situation, saying the country had returned to the 1890s. He nevertheless encouraged his supporters to remain strong despite the challenges they face.
“He said that under the current regime, just staying alive is an achievement,” Nyanjura recounted.
She also told Besigye about Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, whom she said was his neighbour at the same facility, although the two had not yet met.
Nyanjura said seeing Besigye in his current condition was painful but expressed hope that he would continue making progress in his recovery.
“His enduring spirit and sharp mind remind me why he is the leader he is,” she said.
“Please keep KB in your thoughts and prayers as he walks this long, difficult road to recovery. His resilience gives me hope that we will get through this dark chapter. Long live KB,” Nyanjura added.
Besigye, a former personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni, is one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition figures. He contested the presidency four times and was a founding leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) before later associating with the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
He has been in detention since November 2024, following his arrest in Kenya and return to Uganda. He faces treason charges alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola. The accused have denied the charges.
Besigye’s health became a major concern after he collapsed during court proceedings in Kampala and was taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment. His condition has drawn concern from his family, lawyers and political allies, who have repeatedly called for proper medical care.
Nyanjura’s account offers a personal glimpse into the difficulties Besigye is facing as he undergoes rehabilitation, with his ability to communicate and perform everyday tasks still affected by his condition.
