By Ollus Ndomu
Ugandan opposition veteran Kizza Besigye boycotted the start of his treason trial after High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma declined to recuse himself and refused Besigye’s latest bid for release, deepening a standoff that has dragged on for months ahead of next year’s elections.
Besigye and co-accused Obed Lutale did not appear when proceedings opened, with their legal team arguing the court could not guarantee a fair hearing. Judge Baguma rejected a defense calculation that the state had exceeded the 180-day limit to bring the case to trial and said the court would not be held hostage. He has set the matter on a fast track.
The case stems from Besigye’s seizure in Nairobi in November 2024 and transfer to Kampala, where he first appeared before a military tribunal on firearms and treachery-related counts. Uganda’s Supreme Court later ruled the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional, prompting the government to shift the case to the civilian High Court.
Baguma recently dismissed a fresh bail request, faulting defense lawyers for politically choreographed submissions and finding no compelling grounds to release Besigye while the state prepares for trial. Rights groups say the continued detention and pace of proceedings raise due-process concerns.
Local media reported that the High Court has moved to expedite hearings, with pre-trial steps compressed to meet statutory timelines. Defense counsel insists the delay clock has run, while prosecutors maintain the period was tolled by earlier interlocutory applications and transfers between jurisdictions.
Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger and longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, faces treason and related counts that can carry the death penalty. The government has defended its handling of the case and broader security policy, even as opposition parties accuse authorities of weaponizing the courts before the 2026 vote.
Besigye’s November 2024 seizure ignited a diplomatic flap after his wife, senior UN official Winnie Byanyima, said he was abducted in Kenya. Ugandan officials said Nairobi had been informed of the operation, while Kenyan authorities denied involvement. The episode underscores how the case has spilled beyond Uganda’s borders.
The High Court’s refusal to grant bail keeps Besigye at Luzira prison as his lawyers press for recusal and renewed release on medical and constitutional grounds. The bench has signaled it will not revisit those questions absent new facts. A trial date is expected to be fixed once pending procedural objections are resolved.
The proceedings arrive amid wider debate over judicial independence in Uganda. In May, opposition groups accused the government of using military justice to silence critics despite the Supreme Court ruling, allegations the administration rejects. The Besigye case has become a bellwether for that fight.
Besigye and Lutale have pleaded not guilty. If the parties do not resolve preliminary disputes in the coming weeks, the High Court is expected to move to full trial, setting up a politically charged test of Uganda’s criminal justice system.
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