Court sets June 11 for Besigye treason trial

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The High Court has fixed June 11, 2026, for the commencement of the treason trial involving four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajji Obeid Lutale.

Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside Capt. Denish Oyaa Oola attached to the Armoured Brigade of the Uganda People's Defence Forces. The offences carry a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.

The hearing date was set by Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division of the High Court today (June 1) after dismissing an application by the defence seeking to refer questions arising from the court’s trial management directions to the Constitutional Court for interpretation.

“The issues raised by the defence did not constitute substantial constitutional questions requiring interpretation,” the judge ruled.

Justice Baguma noted that the prosecution team completed full disclosure of evidence on Monday (June 1), after which the court scheduled a preliminary hearing for June 8, and directed the prosecution to prepare witnesses for trial starting on June 11.

Justice Baguma observed that although the latest disclosure was made on June 1, it is related to the identities of six previously concealed witnesses. He noted that the prosecution had already made disclosures on January 21, March 4 and March 11, 2026.

“From the court record, the defence was in possession of all the facts and documents necessary to enable them prepare,” he noted.

The defence lawyers led by Earnest Kalibbala had challenged the court’s directions and sought a constitutional reference, arguing that the timelines set by the court could undermine the accused persons’ right to a fair hearing.

The defence asked the court to determine whether the seven-day period between disclosure and the preliminary hearing was adequate under Article 28(3)(c) of the Constitution.

They also questioned whether requiring lawyers to access the accused during weekends and public holidays infringed on fair hearing guarantees, and whether fixing the trial date before the conclusion of the preliminary hearing violated constitutional rights.

However, the judge said a constitutional reference can only be made where a genuine constitutional issue requiring interpretation has been established.

On the question of preparation time, the judge ruled that one week between full disclosure and the preliminary hearing was sufficient.

Regarding access to the accused persons, the court noted that a Luzira Prison officer, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Timothy Wasike, had informed court that exceptions exist to allow lawyers to meet their clients on weekends.

The judge added that the court's Deputy Registrar had been directed to formally communicate with prisons authorities to facilitate access to the accused during weekends and public holidays in order to safeguard their right to a fair trial.

THE CASE

Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large, between 2023 and 2024 in various countries, including Switzerland, Greece, Kenya and in Kampala (Uganda), contrived to overturn the Government of Uganda by force of arms.

According to the charge sheet, the accused, knowing that another person intended to commit treason, did not give information to Ugandan authorities to prevent the commission of treason, which tantamounts to misprision of treason.