Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has asked the High Court to first determine the dispute over his legal representation before the treason trial against him and his co-accused can proceed.
Appearing before the Criminal Division of the High Court on Monday, Dr Besigye argued that the question of who represents him and Hajj Obeid Lutale must be handled as a preliminary matter because it directly affects their right to a fair hearing.
The two accused face charges of treason and misprision of treason, which they have denied.
Through their defence team, Besigye and Lutale maintain that they have a constitutional right to be represented by lawyers of their choice, including Kenyan Senior Counsel **Martha Karua** and Ugandan lawyer **Erias Lukwago**.
The defence argued that proceeding with the trial before resolving the representation issue would undermine the accused persons’ rights and compromise the fairness of the proceedings.
The prosecution, however, opposed the request, arguing that the accused already have legal representation and that there is no legal barrier preventing the trial from moving forward.
The latest application follows previous court proceedings in which the accused declined to proceed with a bail hearing after members of their preferred legal team were not present. Their bail application was later dismissed after the court ruled that they had failed to prosecute their own application.
The dispute over legal representation has become a central issue in the case, with the defence insisting on their chosen lawyers while the State argues that the proceedings should not be delayed.
The High Court is expected to deliver a ruling on the representation question before determining the next steps in the treason trial, one of the most closely watched criminal cases in Uganda.
