Detained veteran opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye, his aide Obeid Lutale and a UPDF soldier Denis Oola attached to the Amoured Brigade have been charged with treason at Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
A visibly weak Besigye was wheeled into the courtroom by prison warders from Luzira amid heavily armed security operatives.
The four-time presidential contender’s new charges come weeks after the Supreme Court on January 31 stopped the General Court Martial where the trio had been charged, from prosecuting civilians and ordered for the immediate transfer of their files to the ordinary courts of law with competent jurisdiction.
Prosecution states that Dr Col (rtd) Besigye, 67; Lutale, 65; Captain Oola, 48 and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places/ countries, including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, contrived a plot, act or matter by force of arms to overturn the Government of Uganda as by law established and expressed or declared such plot, act or matter by utterances and overt acts.
Particulars of overt acts
- Attending meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually in various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kampala in Uganda in furtherance of the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
- Utterances to various individuals during meetings and privately expressing desire and intent to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
- Providing logistical support and organizing for several Ugandan citizens to travel to Kisumu, Kenya for the purpose of receiving training in various military and intelligence gathering techniques.
- Soliciting for military, financial and other logistical support to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
They also face an alternative charge of misprison of treason, contrary to section 25 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
Particulars of offence
Dr Besigye, Lutale and Captain Oola and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, knowing that another person intended to commit treason, did not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police Station or use all reasonable endeavors to prevent the commission of the treason.
They are appearing at Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court where the fresh charges have been read to them. They were not allowed to take plea on grounds that the charges are capital in nature and can only be heard in the High Court.
The state prosecutor says the investigation are not complete and asked for an adjournment for mention.
Dr Besigye’s lawyers are said to have been served at 9:25am on Friday.
Dr Besigye and Lutale were abducted from Nairobi, Kenya in November last year before they were arraigned in the General Court Martial days after being detained at Makindye Military Barracks.
During proceedings at Nakawa Court, Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago asked the magistrate to order for his transfer to a better health facility outside prison so that he can access proper treatment.
In her ruling after listening to the submissions of both the state prosecutor who said investigations into the charges are still ongoing and the defence lawyers, the magistrate, Esther Nyadoi said she was constrained to order for Besigye’s transfer to a better health facility outside Luzira Prison.
“I’m constrained to make such orders given that their offences are capital in nature and can only be tried in the High Court. I order for speedy investigations so that the accused can be committed to High Court for trial. The accused are remanded to Luzira prison until March 7, 2025 for mention,” she said.
Credit Daily Monitor
