Besigye Faces Court Martial
Nov 24, 2005
COLONEL Kizza Besigye, the president for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), yesterday refused to recognise the General Military Court Martial sitting at Makindye, a Kampala city suburb.
By Hillary Kiirya COLONEL Kizza Besigye, the president for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), yesterday refused to recognise the General Military Court Martial sitting at Makindye, a Kampala city suburb.
Besigye refused to talk as he faced new charges of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms. He kept staring at the court chairman, Gen. Elly Tumwine, as he sat on a chair in the cage.
Last week, 18 of his co-accused also refused to talk.
Other members of the court included Col. John Mateka, Maj. Sam Omara, maj. Ibrahim Sebaggala, Maj. Godffrey Lukanga, Capt. Silver Mwesigwa, Capt. David Agaba, Lt. Harriet Mwebaze, Lt. Simon Peter Angois, Lt. Bernard Mukiibi, WOI Fred Arinaitwe and Maj. Wilson Mwesigwa.
Dressed in the same attire in which he was arrested on Monday last week, Besigye was brought in a prisons bus, handcuffed with Lt. Jean Paul Bizimana, who is charged with the murder of nine tourists in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.
Besigye was scheduled to appear before Justice James Ogoola at the High Court in the morning for his bail application but was first produced before the military court.
Before the charges were read out, Tumwine asked Besigye, “What language do you prefer to use?†Besigye did not respond. Tumwine paraphrased the question, “The language you feel free to use.†Besigye just looked at him. The prosecuting team, led by Maj. Moses Wandera, interrupted, asking the court to put them on record before proceeding. Wandera introduced his colleague Capt. Johnson Orywem before asking the defence lawyers to introduce themselves.
Sam Kalega Njuba, the lead defence counsel introduced his team that included Wandera Ogalo, Yusuf Nsibambi, Erias Lukwago and Caleb Alaka.
“Before we proceed, I would like to have a list of the members presiding over this case,†Njuba asked.
“Members of the court martial were published and you will get them,†Tumwine answered.
When the list was brought, Njuba took his seat, waiting for Tumwine to read out the charges to Besigye.
Tumwine asked Besigye, “Do you have any objection to the members seated here?†Besigye kept quiet, prompting Tumwine to say ‘no objection’ and asked the prosecution to proceed.
Wandera said, “On November 18, 2005, one Capt. Katabazi and others were arraigned before this court on charges of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms. Further investigations into this matter have yielded the inclusion of Col. Besigye, hence the amendment of this charge.â€
Tumwine read out the charges, which stated that Besigye and 22 others were found in unlawful possession of weapons in 2004.
He also charged Besigye with possession of firearms without a valid firearms certificate.
Ends
Besigye refused to talk as he faced new charges of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms. He kept staring at the court chairman, Gen. Elly Tumwine, as he sat on a chair in the cage.
Last week, 18 of his co-accused also refused to talk.
Other members of the court included Col. John Mateka, Maj. Sam Omara, maj. Ibrahim Sebaggala, Maj. Godffrey Lukanga, Capt. Silver Mwesigwa, Capt. David Agaba, Lt. Harriet Mwebaze, Lt. Simon Peter Angois, Lt. Bernard Mukiibi, WOI Fred Arinaitwe and Maj. Wilson Mwesigwa.
Dressed in the same attire in which he was arrested on Monday last week, Besigye was brought in a prisons bus, handcuffed with Lt. Jean Paul Bizimana, who is charged with the murder of nine tourists in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.
Besigye was scheduled to appear before Justice James Ogoola at the High Court in the morning for his bail application but was first produced before the military court.
Before the charges were read out, Tumwine asked Besigye, “What language do you prefer to use?†Besigye did not respond. Tumwine paraphrased the question, “The language you feel free to use.†Besigye just looked at him. The prosecuting team, led by Maj. Moses Wandera, interrupted, asking the court to put them on record before proceeding. Wandera introduced his colleague Capt. Johnson Orywem before asking the defence lawyers to introduce themselves.
Sam Kalega Njuba, the lead defence counsel introduced his team that included Wandera Ogalo, Yusuf Nsibambi, Erias Lukwago and Caleb Alaka.
“Before we proceed, I would like to have a list of the members presiding over this case,†Njuba asked.
“Members of the court martial were published and you will get them,†Tumwine answered.
When the list was brought, Njuba took his seat, waiting for Tumwine to read out the charges to Besigye.
Tumwine asked Besigye, “Do you have any objection to the members seated here?†Besigye kept quiet, prompting Tumwine to say ‘no objection’ and asked the prosecution to proceed.
Wandera said, “On November 18, 2005, one Capt. Katabazi and others were arraigned before this court on charges of terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms. Further investigations into this matter have yielded the inclusion of Col. Besigye, hence the amendment of this charge.â€
Tumwine read out the charges, which stated that Besigye and 22 others were found in unlawful possession of weapons in 2004.
He also charged Besigye with possession of firearms without a valid firearms certificate.
Ends