The TikTok video is AI-generated, not shared by Byanyima

6 February 2026, 10:03 am

By Byamukama Alozious

The TikTok video claiming to show Dr Kizza Besigye seriously ill is misleading and digitally manipulated. A video circulating on TikTok from the account @musawo.aine purports to show Dr Kizza Besigye in hospital, suggesting a recent or worsening medical emergency.

Impact of the claim

The content has spread widely on TikTok, generating public concern, speculation, and misinformation. The post has attracted over 24,000 likes, 1,200 comments, 167 reposts, and more than 1,000 shares, with captions such as “Finally Besigye was taken to hospital”, heightening public anxiety.

We investigated whether the circulating content is a genuine video and examined the origin and context of the image used.

The facts

Dr Kizza Besigye is indeed unwell. In a news story aired on NTV Television, his wife, Winnie Byanyima, confirmed that he requires medical attention. She stated that Besigye had been taken to a clinic, although she was not aware of the details. In the same report, the Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine, dismissed allegations that Besigye is critically ill.

Not a real video: Verification by InfoVerifier found that the TikTok content is not an authentic video. It is a still photograph that has been digitally animated (using AI or video effects) to appear as a moving video.

The original photograph was taken by Winnie Byanyima herself while Dr Besigye was at a hospital in Bugolobi (Source: Danny News).

This is the original image showing Dr Besigye in a clinic, which his wife shared. It is a photograph, not a video, as claimed.

Verdict:

Misleading: Although the image of Dr Besigye in hospital attire is authentic and has been previously published, and the caption stating that he was finally taken to hospital reflects real events, the portrayal of him in an extremely critical health condition is clickbait created using artificial intelligence. This misrepresentation distorts the original photograph and its context.

This fact-check was produced by MaMa FM with support from the Debunk Media Initiative and BBC Media Action.