Veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye on Tuesday appeared before the High Court in Kampala alongside his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola, as proceedings resumed in their long-running treason case.
Scenes from court showed the trio being formally produced before Justice Emmanuel Baguma, amid heavy security presence, as the court prepared to rule on whether plea-taking could proceed. The accused face treason-related charges stemming from allegations the prosecution says threaten national security, charges they have consistently denied.
The appearance followed an adjournment on Monday, when defence lawyers objected to the indictment, arguing that it was defective and contained material irregularities, including errors in the particulars of the accused. Besigye and Lutale declined to take plea at the time, describing the indictment as an “ambush.”
On Tuesday, Justice Baguma directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to amend the indictment. The revised charge sheet was signed, presented in court, and served to the defence. The court ruled that plea-taking could proceed on the basis of the corrected indictment.
However, Dr Besigye declined to enter a plea. In accordance with the Trial on Indictments Act, the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Similar not-guilty pleas were also entered for Lutale and Oola.
The court did not entertain fresh arguments on bail, with the judge indicating that plea-taking had to be concluded first. This effectively left the trio in remand at Luzira Prison, marking yet another setback in their repeated attempts to secure temporary release. It was their fourth bail application.
The case has faced multiple delays over the past months due to procedural objections, constitutional petitions, and contested bail hearings. Dr Besigye has been in custody for more than a year, following his arrest in November 2024 under circumstances his supporters describe as an abduction from neighbouring Kenya, a claim the government has previously disputed.
The court is expected to give further directions on the conduct of the trial at the next sitting.
Meanwhile, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, reacted strongly to the court developments, linking them to what he described as political persecution.
In a social media post, Kyagulanyi referenced earlier remarks allegedly made by President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, about Besigye’s fate, and criticised the denial of bail. “The judiciary, like all other institutions, has been completely emasculated,” Kyagulanyi wrote, calling on Ugandans to use the upcoming general election to push for political change.
The state has maintained that the case against Besigye and his co-accused is lawful and grounded in national security concerns, insisting that the courts remain independent and guided by the law.
