Treason case: Besigye, Lutale no show in court

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Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale, who were supposed to begin their treason trial today, ‘boycotted’ the court, citing ill health.

The accused informed the deputy registrar of the Criminal Division of the High Court, Samuel Twakyire, that they would not be able to attend.

This prompted the presiding High Court judge, Emmanuel Baguma, to adjourn the hearing to October 1, 2025.

“Since the accused are not in court, their concerns will be raised on October 1, 2025, when they appear in court for plea taking,” he said.

Earlier, the accused had rejected trial before Baguma, alleging bias.

Speaking after the court session, one of the accused’s lawyers, Erias Lukwago, said the accused were not comfortable with Baguma and therefore would not appear before him.

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 charges of misprision of treason.

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

The state is represented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu and Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka, while the accused are represented by Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, Ernest Kalibala and Erias Lukwago.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large, between 2023 and November 2024, at various locations including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya and Kampala in Uganda, contrived a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms and expressed or declared such a plot through utterances and overt acts.

According to the charge sheet, Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large, within the same period and countries, knowing that another person intended to commit treason, failed to give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the minister, an administrative officer, a magistrate or a police officer, or to use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of treason.

Particulars of overt acts

Prosecution alleges that the accused persons travelled to various countries, including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, to attend meetings to further the plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda.

Court documents indicate that the accused attended meetings both physically and virtually in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi and Kampala in pursuit of this alleged plan.

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

It is further alleged that the trio solicited military, financial and other logistical support to facilitate the plan to overthrow the government.