Parliament asks AG to present statement on Besigye's health

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Parliament has asked the Attorney General to present a statement on the health status of veteran opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye, amid allegations that he is frail and on a hunger strike behind bars.

During Wednesday's plenary chaired by Speaker Anita Among, Erute South MP Jonathan Odur informed the House that the AG had been scheduled to brief Parliament on the status of government compliance with the recent Supreme Court decision on military courts, and on allegations Besigye was on a hunger strike due to delayed release.

Parliament during plenary on Wednesday. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

On January 31, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment nullifying, with immediate effect, prosecution of all civilians in the Makindye-based General Court Martial and military courts.

Besigye, a retired military officer, and his co-accused Obeid Lutale were facing trial in the General Court Martial on charges relating to security and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunitions.

In its landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the top army court had no jurisdiction to handle cases involving civilians and directed that their files be transferred to a civilian court. 

On the floor of Parliament, MP Odur also asked government to present a list of all civilians and militants currently facing trial before the Military Court Martial.

“We agreed with the government that they should constantly brief Parliament on the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling. The whole of this week, they seem to have kept quiet and yet have been informed that Dr Kizza Besigye is frail and on hunger strike,” he said.

Consequently, Speaker Among asked the Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, who was in attendance, to present a statement on the matter on Thursday.

Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, who was in attendance during plenary. (Credit: Maria Wamala)

'They know the process'

Speaking in Parliament last week, justice minister Norbert Mao clarified that the Supreme Court ruling did not order the release of civilians and soldiers facing criminal charges before the General Court Martial.

“Court did not say they [Besigye and Lutale] should be released because their case has not even been heard. They are only saying 'bring it before a civilian court so that it is heard'. 

"Let’s not misguide the population by exciting them that the Supreme Court’s decision amounted to a release order. Let the lawyers of Dr Besigye do their job. They know the process,” said Mao.

“I appeal to colleagues to put aside the political lens when discussing this matter. If the evidence is there, it will be presented before the civilian court, but please stop misleading people to say that all the civilians undergoing trial before the Court Martial were ordered to be released. 

"The Supreme Court did not hear the case, how can they determine it? It is a shame that members are misguiding the nation like that."

The justice minister told lawmakers that when courts make rulings, they do not again go around implementing their own decisions or the recommendations.