Eron Kiiza: Besigye's lawyer seeks passport return for overseas medical treatment
Kiiza says he needs urgent medical treatment abroad, specifically in Costa Rica, where he is scheduled to travel for recovery in early July.
Ugandan human rights lawyer and legal counsel to opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, Eron Kiiza, has petitioned the High Court in Kampala to release his passport, which has been in court custody since April 5, 2025, as a bail condition.
In a formal application to the Criminal Division of the High Court, Eron Kiiza is requesting the release of his passport, number AA541257.
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He contends that the continued retention of the document infringes on his constitutional rights and prevents him from accessing urgent medical treatment overseas.
Kiiza says he needs urgent medical treatment abroad, specifically in Costa Rica, where he is scheduled to travel for recovery in early July.
He says the situation has worsened his trauma and deprived him of international work opportunities.
He argues that the passport was surrendered in compliance with bail conditions set by Justice Michael Elubu, who had made provision for Kiiza to retrieve it upon making an application should he need to travel.
“I risk missing a vital trip to Costa Rica for recovery due to delays in releasing my passport. The continuing detention of my PASSPORT is more than red tape—it’s a violation of my constitutional rights!” Kizza said in a statement.
Kiiza details in an affidavit that he was tortured and illegally detained by the General Court Martial, and held for 86 days by a military tribunal at Makindye until April 4th 2025, when he was released on bail.
According to Kiiza, the court order had provided for the return of his passport upon formal request for travel.
He said he made written applications on April 24 and May 7 but received no response until June 12, when the Deputy Registrar advised him to file a formal application.
Kiiza argued that the continued detention of his passport had already cost him international opportunities in Europe and Asia and was now threatening to derail a critical trip to Costa Rica scheduled for early July.
“This is more than a demand for a travel document critical for cross-border mobility. This is an assertion of my human dignity and my fundamental human rights to life, work, livelihood, freedom of movement, personal liberty, and nationality,” Kizza stated.
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