KAMPALA — The High Court has been informed that detained opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was unable to attend his treason trial on Thursday due to illness, as his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, reiterated his demand for a fair hearing and objected to legal representation appointed under the State Brief scheme.
Presiding judge Justice Emmanuel Baguma told the court that he had received a letter explaining Besigye’s absence, indicating that the veteran opposition politician was unwell.
The development comes a day after Besigye collapsed in court during the trial and was rushed from the courtroom by ambulance. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, later said he had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mulago National Referral Hospital and was unconscious, although government authorities had not officially confirmed his condition.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Lutale told the court that he had no objection to standing trial but insisted that the proceedings must be conducted fairly.
“I do not fear being tried,” Lutale told the court, according to reports from the hearing. “I only want a fair hearing.”
He further asked the court to formally record that he was currently unrepresented because he had not consented to lawyers appointed under the State Brief system.
Lutale maintained that he had not accepted the court-appointed defence counsel, arguing that he wished to be represented by lawyers of his own choosing.
The issue of legal representation has remained a central point of contention since the start of the treason trial. Earlier this month, Justice Baguma ruled that the proceedings would continue even if Besigye and Lutale’s preferred lawyers were unavailable, directing that counsel be assigned to them at the State’s expense where necessary.
Besigye and Lutale have consistently argued that they have been denied adequate access to their lawyers while on remand, saying the arrangement undermines their constitutional right to a fair trial. The court has previously rejected those objections and dismissed a joint bail application after finding that the defence had failed to prosecute it.
The two are jointly charged with treason over allegations that they conspired to overthrow the government. Both have denied the charges.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been in custody since November 2024 after he and Lutale were arrested in Kenya and returned to Uganda to face prosecution. Their case was initially before the General Court Martial before being transferred to the High Court following a ruling by the Supreme Court that civilians should not be tried in military courts.
The trial is expected to continue before Justice Baguma as the court determines the way forward in light of Besigye’s illness and absence from the proceedings.