The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an application seeking the release of retired Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, from prison. The duo had argued that their detention was unlawful following a Supreme Court ruling that barred military courts from trying civilians.
However, in a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Douglas Singiza deemed the application moot, noting that Besigye and Lutale were formally charged at Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court on February 21, 2025. The judge emphasized that their remand was legally justified under Section 56 of the Evidence Act and, therefore, dismissed the application without costs.
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Besigye, Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola are facing charges of treason and misprision of treason, with prosecutors alleging they solicited firearms and financial support while attending meetings in various cities, including Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala, with the intent of overthrowing the Ugandan government. The accused remain in Luzira Prison as investigations continue, with their next court appearance set for March 7, 2025.
Despite their legal team’s argument that they were unlawfully detained without valid remand warrants, the state maintained that the Supreme Court ruling only required the transfer of cases from military to civilian courts, a process already underway. Meanwhile, Judge Singiza condemned personal attacks against him on social media, dismissing allegations of government influence as baseless.
Besigye, who had been on a hunger strike to protest his military detention, ended his fast following his formal arraignment before a civilian court.
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