The late Righteous Ariho Besigye
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I “You now rest peacefully in the arms of the King of Peace, Jesus Christ,” were some of the words used by Adam Ampa Besigye as he mourned the death of his six-year-old son, Righteous Ariho Besigye.
Righteous, popularly known as “Rai”, was the only grandson of veteran opposition politician Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and died in the early hours of Thursday, September 24, 2026, while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.
The death was announced by Adam, Dr Besigye’s eldest son, in an emotional social media tribute in which he described Rai as his beloved and only firstborn son.
“It’s with profound pain and a heavy heart I’ve never imagined I would ever carry, that I announce the loss of my beloved and only firstborn son, Righteous Ariho (Rai),” Adam wrote.
He said his son had battled until the end, describing him as a warrior whose death had left the family devastated.
“You fought until the end, my warrior,” Adam said, adding that the child had now become his “guardian angel”.
Adam did not disclose the illness that led to Rai’s admission to the ICU, leaving the circumstances surrounding the child’s medical condition undisclosed.
Born in March 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rai was six years old at the time of his death. He was the firstborn son of Adam and the only grandson of Dr Besigye.
His death comes at a difficult period for the Besigye family, with the veteran opposition politician himself facing legal proceedings and continuing health concerns.
Dr Besigye remains in Luzira Prison, where he is facing treason charges. He and his co-accused have denied allegations that they participated in a plot to overthrow the government.
The opposition politician has also experienced serious health problems in recent months. On July 29, he collapsed during proceedings at the High Court in Kampala and was admitted to the ICU at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
His family said at the time that he was unable to speak or walk without assistance. He was later discharged and returned to Luzira, although his family continued to express concern about his health and called for specialised medical treatment outside Uganda.
Dr Besigye has since received further medical attention, including treatment at the Joint Clinical Research Centre. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, has also maintained that he remains weak and has sought permission for him to receive specialised treatment abroad.
Against this backdrop, the death of Rai has brought another painful loss to the Besigye family, coming as the opposition leader’s treason case continues before the High Court.
For Adam, however, the immediate loss is that of a young son whose life ended at only six years, leaving behind a grieving family and memories of the child they called Rai.
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