KAMPALA, Uganda
Opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, are expected to appear before the High Court today as their treason and misprision of treason case enters a critical phase, with the prosecution expected to begin presenting witnesses.
The hearing will be presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, who previously directed that the state start producing witnesses as the trial progresses.
Prosecutors are expected to begin laying out evidence and witness testimony in support of the charges against the two men.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and long-time government critic, and Lutale have denied the allegations against them.
Ahead of the hearing, concerns were raised by some of Besigye’s supporters and political allies regarding the fairness of the proceedings.
Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda argued that public statements by senior officials had created the impression that Besigye had already been judged before the court reached a verdict.
The defence has particularly pointed to social media posts attributed to Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, including comments that allegedly referred to Besigye as a “dead man walking” and suggested he could be hanged on Heroes Day.
Besigye and Lutale have since filed legal actions challenging those statements, arguing that they undermine their right to a fair trial.
The latest court appearance comes amid a dispute between the defence team and prison authorities over access to prosecution evidence.
In further development, lawyers led by Erias Lukwago and Martha Karua recently protested after they were denied entry into Luzira Prison with laptops, flash drives, and other electronic devices they intended to use while reviewing evidence with their clients.
The defence team argued that the restrictions prevented them from adequately preparing for trial and examining digital evidence provided by the prosecution.
Prison authorities reportedly maintained that consultations involving electronic devices could not be allowed under existing prison regulations and informed the lawyers that meetings with the accused would only be permitted on weekends and public holidays.
The defence described the restrictions as an obstacle to proper legal representation.
Despite the earlier disagreement, Karua, Lukwago, and other members of the defence team later returned to Luzira Prison with electronic equipment, including laptops, projectors, and audio-visual devices, to review audio and video materials that form part of the prosecution’s case.
The lawyers said the equipment was necessary to examine digital evidence and prepare a response ahead of witness testimony in court.
In addition to defending the treason case, Besigye and Lutale have filed a High Court application seeking to halt the trial.
The pair claim they were unlawfully abducted from Kenya in November 2024, subjected to torture, and denied access to lawyers and family members. They argue that these alleged violations, combined with public comments made about the case, have compromised their constitutional rights and made a fair trial impossible.
The government has not publicly responded to those allegations.
The case continues to attract significant public interest due to Besigye’s prominence in Uganda’s opposition politics and his long-standing rivalry with President Yoweri Museveni.
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