Besigye sent back to Luzira, ruling for tomorrow

The High Court will on Tuesday deliver a ruling on a bail application for the opposition leader and former Presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye who was remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of treason.

Besigye a four-time presidential candidate and a runner-up in the February presidential elections was charged with treason before Chief Magistrate James Eremu Mawanda.

Sections 23 of the Penal Code Act states that a person charged with treason suffers death upon conviction.

Besigye was on May 13, 2016 arraigned before Moroto Chief Magistrate, Charles Yeteise and charged with treason.

Prosecution alleges that Besigye, a runner up in the February 18 presidential polls and others still at large on February 20 and May 11, 2016, planned to forcefully ascend to the office of the President.

He also, while in the various parts of Wakiso and Kampala Districts, demanded for an independent international audit of the February 18 polls, to be conducted before the President Yoweri Museveni was sworn-in for fifth term in office.

According to the charge sheet, Besigye on April 7, while at Kasangati, uttered words to the effect that he would establish a Cabinet for Uganda.

Other accusations against him are that he unlawfully declared himself winner of the 2016 presidential elections, he defied lawful orders and mobilized people to attend his swearing in and that he unlawfully took the presidential oath, undertaking to execute the functions and duties of the office of the President.