By Kabuye Ronald
Opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has been remanded to Luzira Prison after being charged with endangering the security of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) before the General Court Martial. The charges, which relate to alleged activities outside Uganda, were brought against Besigye on Wednesday, leading to his detention amid fierce criticism from his supporters and legal team.
Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and prominent critic of President Museveni’s government, was arraigned before the Makindye-based military court, presided over by Brigadier-General Freeman Robert Mugabe. According to the charges, Besigye, along with his close associate Hajji Obeid Lutale and others still at large, allegedly held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi between October 2023 and November 2024, where they sought logistical support and identified military targets in Uganda with the intent to undermine the security of the UPDF.
Additionally, the prosecution claims that on November 16, Dr. Besigye and Mr. Lutale were found in unlawful possession of two pistols and ammunition during their stay at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi. The firearms, described as models typically reserved for the defence forces, were reportedly found along with eight rounds of pistol ammunition.
However, Besigye, speaking briefly to the media, denied the charges and claimed that since his arrest, he had not been allowed to speak with his lawyers or anyone else. His legal representative, Erias Lukwago, contested the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the General Court Martial could not try Besigye for offenses allegedly committed outside Uganda’s borders.
Lukwago further stated that the UPDF Act did not extend to offenses outside Uganda’s territory, and that the alleged acts, including the possession of firearms in Nairobi, did not constitute criminal offenses under the military law. “The court has no universal jurisdiction. This is an absurd stretch,” Lukwago said in defense of his client.
Despite these arguments, Brigadier-General Mugabe adjourned the case until December 2, 2024, for further proceedings, noting that Lukwago’s legal submissions would be considered.
The charges against Dr. Besigye come amid growing concerns over the treatment of opposition figures by the Ugandan government, with his arrest in Kenya echoing the controversial abduction of 36 political activists from Kenya earlier this year. The activists, associated with Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, were detained in Kisumu, Kenya, before being transferred to Uganda in violation of international extradition laws.
Dr. Besigye’s arrest has sparked widespread condemnation from his supporters, including National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), who has denounced the actions as politically motivated and a violation of Besigye’s rights. As his case continues to unfold, many are questioning the fairness of the legal proceedings and the broader implications for political opposition in Uganda.
