Treason case: Prosecution serves Besigye, Lutale with evidence
The prosecution told the court that it had fulfilled its disclosure obligations and was ready to begin presenting witnesses once the issues regarding legal representation raised by the accused persons are resolved.
Assistant DPP Thomas and National Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka serve the accused persons with full disclosure of all the evidence to be presented in court in the case. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
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The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has informed the High Court that it has served four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale, with documentary evidence ahead of their treason trial.
Appearing before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala on Wednesday, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko told Justice Emmanuel Baguma that the prosecution had served the two accused persons with three volumes of disclosure containing witness statements, documentary exhibits and other evidence it intends to rely on during the trial.
“The prosecution has complied with the orders of this honourable court. The disclosure is ready, and we have personally served the first and second accused persons,” Jatiko said.
Assistant DPP Thomas interacts with Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale, in court in the case. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
The prosecution told the court that it had fulfilled its disclosure obligations and was ready to begin presenting witnesses once the issues regarding legal representation raised by the accused persons are resolved.
Besigye and Lutale acknowledged receipt of the documents.
Meanwhile, Besigye informed the judge that he and his co-accused had filed another application, which they intend to pursue after reviewing the prosecution’s evidence.
He granted Besigye and Lutale two weeks to exercise their constitutional right to legal representation of their choice before the trial begins on July 29.
The Case
Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside Capt. Denish Oyaa Oola of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), who is attached to the Armoured Brigade. The offences carry a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
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.