Uganda's Besigye leaves hospital

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye arrives at Nairobi Hospital on a stretcher on April 29, 2011 night after he was injured in demonstrations in Kampala the previous day. He was discharged May 6, 2011 after making a full recovery. STEPHEN MUDIARI

Ugandan opposition leader Kiiza Besigye left the Nairobi Hospital Friday afternoon.

A hospital spokesperson said Dr Besigye was considered “strong enough and well enough” to be discharged from the hospital.

Other sources confirmed that he would be staying in Nairobi for a while where he has been joined by his wife Winnie Byanyima.

There was indication that arrangements were being made for the opposition leader to address the news conference Saturday.

Dr Besigye was admitted to the hospital last Friday after suffering multiple injuries during demonstrations over high food and fuel prices.

Ugandan authorities, who had refused him to fly to Kenya for treatment, later relented and he boarded a Kenya Airways flight at Entebbe Airport an hour later.

A family source said he was in critical condition.

“Dr Besigye will undergo surgery to clean his eyes from inside,” the source said.

“The pepper sprayed into his eyes severely affected him and doctors have said his bloodstream was also affected.”

“He has received intravenous medication to try to get rid of pepper from his blood which may also have affected oxygen levels in his blood system.”

The opposition leader can only walk with assistance and his arm is still in a cast following the gunshot injuries he sustained two weeks ago. 

It also emerged yesterday that Nairobi doctors found out that Dr Besigye had suffered rib cage damage while he was hauled unconscious into the back of a police pick-up. The Nairobi Hospital did not release an official statement on his condition.

Dr Besigye’s search for treatment came after Ugandan riot police clobbered him in his car before one of them sprayed his eyes, chest and back with pepper spray.