Judge directs  Besigye to put concerns in writing

KAMPALA - The hearing of a treason case against four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has failed to kick off after the judge instructed him to submit his concerns about the court in writing.  
Besigye, on Wednesday (October 1), was back in court to express his grievances directly in court, but Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division of the High Court declined.

“I grant you permission to raise your concerns, but you should put it in writing, then I will respond to it,” the judge said.

The judge directed Besigye to file his written concerns in the court on Friday, this week, promising that he will deliver a ruling on the submissions on October 8, 2025.

Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason alongside Captain Denis Oola of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), attached to the Armoured Brigade. They also face a charge of misprision of treason.

Treason carries a maximum penalty of death upon conviction, while misprision of treason is punishable by life imprisonment.

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Allegations 

Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Hajj Obeid 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, Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others, still at large, between 2023 and 2024, 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.

Particulars of the offence 

Prosecution alleges that the accused persons travelled to various countries, including Switzerland, Greece and Kenya, for purposes of attending meetings to further the plot to overturn the Government of Uganda.

Court documents indicate that the accused attended meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually in various places, including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya and in Kampala, in furtherance of the plot to overturn the Government of Uganda.

According to documents, the accused persons provided logistical support and organised for several Ugandan citizens to travel to Kisumu in Kenya for the purpose of receiving training in various military and intelligence gathering techniques.

It is further alleged that the trio solicited military, financial and other logistical support to overturn the Government of Uganda.