Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court has rejected a government request to access mobile phone data belonging to opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale, citing a lack of jurisdiction.
Chief Magistrate Christine Natenge ruled that since the accused were formally committed to the High Court for trial on May 29, 2025, her court no longer had the legal authority to entertain such an application. She emphasized that once committal is complete, any further proceedings in the magistrate’s court become invalid.
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The request—filed by Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka—sought court permission for investigators to extract data from the accused’s phones to support their prosecution. However, the defence team, led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, strongly opposed the application, calling it procedurally improper and legally unsound.
Following the magistrate’s refusal to hear the matter, Besigye and Lutale, currently on remand at Luzira Prison, filed a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission. They accused the presiding magistrate of mishandling the case and called for her recusal. Lukwago also stated that their next step would be to apply for bail in the High Court.
Dr. Besigye, Lutale, and UPDF officer Capt. Dennis Oola are facing treason charges. The prosecution alleges that, between 2023 and late 2024, the trio conspired to overthrow the government through activities in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala. Court documents accuse Besigye of working with a Kurdish intelligence agent identified as “AW” to discuss plans involving sabotage, drone attacks, and the acquisition of weapons, including chemical agents and missiles.
The state further alleges that Besigye received \$5,000 from AW to facilitate the transport of 36 Ugandans to Kisumu, Kenya, for paramilitary training. However, the group was intercepted and deported before the training began. Those individuals now face separate terrorism-related charges. According to the prosecution, AW was cooperating with Ugandan military intelligence and recorded the alleged plans.
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