KAMPALA — Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered prison authorities to provide a medical report on environmental activist Dorothy Asio after she collapsed in the dock during a court session on Monday.
Asio reportedly collapsed while chanting “hungry for justice”, in an apparent protest against her continued detention alongside nine other activists arrested over a campaign targeting Uganda’s oil sector.
The incident prompted Grade One Magistrate Rophine Achayo to suspend proceedings for several hours and direct prison authorities to examine Asio before submitting a formal report on her health.
The magistrate asked officials to establish whether the activist was experiencing a genuine medical emergency or whether the collapse had been staged. She also cautioned against attempts to turn court proceedings into a spectacle.
The matter was adjourned to November 16, when the court is expected to continue hearing the activists’ bail application.
Asio, a Kyambogo University student and member of the environmental campaign group Rooted in Resistance, was arrested on August 31 with nine others while marching towards Parliament to deliver a petition seeking reforms in Uganda’s oil sector.
They were charged on September 1 with being a nuisance on a public road under Section 67(1)(c) of the Roads Act, Cap 346. The accused have denied the charge and have spent close to 70 days on remand.
Speaking to journalists outside court, defence lawyer Kugonza Musimbi of the Liberty Pro Bono Initiative said Asio had embarked on a hunger strike to protest the prolonged detention and repeated adjournments.
“Asio went on hunger strike, as there was nothing she could do to show that there is injustice,” Musimbi said.
He added that the defence had presented sureties who were ready to secure the activists’ release on bail.
Defence lawyer Samuel Wanda also questioned why the accused had remained in custody for more than 60 days without the prosecution presenting witnesses. He said the defence had received unverified information from a prison officer indicating that Asio might be suffering from ulcers.
Asio’s collapse follows a similar incident involving her co-accused, Shakira Kasonga, who collapsed in the same courtroom on October 12. The court ordered a medical assessment at the time, and Kasonga was later granted bail.
The remaining activists are still on remand.
Human rights activist David Musiri, who attended the proceedings, criticised the handling of the case and called for greater judicial independence.
He described Uganda’s situation as “rule by law” rather than “rule of law”, while urging leaders to take environmental protection and accountability more seriously.
Rooted in Resistance has been advocating for a shift away from fossil fuel projects, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), towards renewable energy, green manufacturing and climate-smart agriculture.
The government has defended its oil development programme as important for economic growth. EACOP is reportedly more than 90 per cent complete, with first oil expected in 2027.
The court is expected to receive Asio’s medical report and resume the bail hearing on November 16.
