Besigye treason case resumes as court hears audio evidence
Last Thursday, August 27, Wilson told Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division of the High Court that Dr Besigye had allegedly crafted a plan to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni.
Four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye in handcuffs while appearing in court recently. (File)
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The treason trial of four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye and his co-accused continues today (September 1), Tuesday, at the High Court in Kampala, with the playing of an audio recording allegedly capturing Besigye and American national Andrew Wilson discussing plans to overthrow Uganda’s government.
Last Thursday, August 27, Wilson told Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division of the High Court that Dr Besigye had allegedly crafted a plan to assassinate President Yoweri Museveni.
The witness testified that he was expected to send two white individuals to Entebbe to monitor State House, observe the President’s movements and assess the level of his security. They would then evaluate the plan allegedly provided by Besigye, including identifying the most suitable time and location for an assassination attempt.
He also testified that Kisumu, Kenya, had been identified as the training location for individuals who would later come to Uganda to participate in the planned overthrow of the Government.
He said the group discussed bringing drones to Kisumu for training before moving them into Uganda, where he and selected personnel would allegedly use them to launch attacks.
The offences carry a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
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.