Besigye charged with treason

Former presidential candidate, Col. Kizza Besigye has been charged with treason this evening and remanded to prison in Moroto, located about 470 kilometers north-east of Kampala.

According to sources in Moroto, Besigye appeared before Chief Magistrate Charles Yeteise, at about 6.30pm and the proceedings lasted a few minutes. Details about the charges were still scanty as the proceedings were closed to the media.

New Vision learnt that Besigye had no lawyer and that he had refused to record a statement with the Police. It is said Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume was one of a handful of people who were in court.

This is the second time Besigye is being charged with treason. The first time was in 2005.

Besigye was on Wednesday arrested by the Police in Kampala; after he beat security camped at his home in Kasangati and surfaced in downtown Kampala.

Earlier today, Polly Namaye, the Deputy Police Spokesperson had told new Vision that the Police had submitted Besigye's file to the director public prosecution (DPP), to advise on possible charges for Besigye.

She added that Police had granted permission to Besigye's family and Party members, who wished to visit him in the cell. "Whoever wants to visit him should get in touch with us, some people including his family members have already visited him," said Namaye.

New Vision learnt that upon his (Besigye) arrest on Wednesday in Kampala, Besigye was taken to Nalufenya police station in Jinja and Soroti police station, before he was hovered to Moroto police station aboard a police plane.

Besigye who has been under police surveillance since February 18th, had threatened to swear-in, on the same day (May 12) as President Yoweri Museveni who was elected President of Uganda in February.

However on Wednesday morning, a video circulated on YouTube showing Dr Besigye "swearing-in" as president of Uganda.