Besigye treason case: Defence to cross-examine American witness
Besigye is jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, and 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.
Besigye treason case: Defence to cross-examine American witness
_________________
The treason trial of four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused resumes Tuesday (September 15), with the defence expected to cross-examine American national Andrew Wilson, who has given lengthy testimony against the accused.
Wilson testified that Besigye and his co-accused allegedly planned to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.
The witness gave his testimony under the guidance of Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka before Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court Criminal Division.
Besigye is jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside his aide, Obeid Lutale, and 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.
Besigye is currently not represented in court, while his co-accused have legal representation.
The defence is expected to challenge Wilson’s evidence during today’s proceedings as the trial continues.
Previous testimony
In the last court session on September 8, Wilson told court that Besigye had informed him that National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, received financial support from Americans during the 2021 presidential elections.
Wilson testified that Besigye told him that Kyagulanyi had also received financial support from Rwanda.
The prosecution witness also told the court that, according to Besigye, while Bobi Wine’s supporters were serious about their cause, his leadership group was not. Wilson said Besigye claimed that Kyagulanyi’s leadership group had been infiltrated by government personnel.
According to Wilson, Besigye believed it was the right time to cause chaos in Uganda, citing the Government’s failure to pay teachers and students. The witness further testified that Besigye had stated that the Uganda Police Force lacked the capacity to deal with major civil unrest and that the army was divided.
Wilson testified that Besigye’s group needed funding to mobilise politically and trigger civil unrest, with the alleged plan also involving the assassination of President Yoweri Museveni and the subsequent use of the military to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.
The witness further testified that Besigye requested air-defence systems capable of targeting helicopters in Uganda.
The case
The 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.