News
Besigye legal representation case allocated to new judge
According to a letter dated July 17, 2026, Deputy Registrar Samuel Twakyire informed the accused that Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo has allocated the application to Justice Simon Peter Kinobe.
Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale during a court session. (File photo)
By: Michael Odeng and Farooq Kasule, Journalists @New Vision
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An application filed by four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale, seeking to resolve issues surrounding their legal representation, has been assigned to a new judge for determination.
According to a letter dated July 17, 2026, Deputy Registrar Samuel Twakyire informed the accused that Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo has allocated the application to Justice Simon Peter Kinobe.
“This is to inform you that the above matter has been allocated to Justice Kinobe,” the registrar stated.
Justice Kinobe has since directed the applicants to file their written submissions through the electronic court case management information system by August 6, with a ruling expected on August 13.
The development means the treason trial, which had been scheduled to commence on July 29, 2026, would not proceed as planned pending the decision by Justice Kinobe on the application over the accused's legal representation.
The application comes after trial judge Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court’s Criminal Division presented Besigye and Lutale with a list of 786 state brief lawyers from which he asked them to select legal representation ahead of their trial.
The dispute over legal representation arose following the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who had been leading Besigye’s defence team alongside former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Karua was deported and declared persona non grata shortly after arriving at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026. Meanwhile, Lukwago, who has since been committed to the High Court to stand trial, is facing a charge of misprision of treason.
The development means the treason trial, which had been scheduled to commence on July 29, 2026, would not proceed as planned pending the decision by Justice Kinobe on the application over the accused's legal representation.
The application comes after trial judge Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court’s Criminal Division presented Besigye and Lutale with a list of 786 state brief lawyers from which he asked them to select legal representation ahead of their trial.
The dispute over legal representation arose following the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua, who had been leading Besigye’s defence team alongside former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Karua was deported and declared persona non grata shortly after arriving at Entebbe International Airport on June 22, 2026. Meanwhile, Lukwago, who has since been committed to the High Court to stand trial, is facing a charge of misprision of treason.
The legal representation dispute has contributed to repeated delays in the hearing of Besigye’s treason case. During proceedings on July 17, Besigye told court that the legal representation application raises fundamental questions that should be determined before the trial can proceed.
The case
Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside Capt. Denish Oyaa Oola of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who is attached to the Armoured Brigade. The offences carry a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large conspired between 2023 and 2024, in various countries including Switzerland, Greece, Kenya and Uganda, to overthrow the Government of Uganda through the use of armed force.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly knew that another person intended to commit treason, but failed to provide information to Ugandan authorities to prevent its commission, an offence that amounts to misprision of treason.
The case
Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside Capt. Denish Oyaa Oola of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who is attached to the Armoured Brigade. The offences carry a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large conspired between 2023 and 2024, in various countries including Switzerland, Greece, Kenya and Uganda, to overthrow the Government of Uganda through the use of armed force.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly knew that another person intended to commit treason, but failed to provide information to Ugandan authorities to prevent its commission, an offence that amounts to misprision of treason.