Kampala, Uganda – Opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale have been returned to Luzira Maximum Security Prison under tight security after a hearing of their habeas corpus application at the High Court in Kampala.
The hearing, overseen by Justice Douglas Singiza, was based on an application filed by Besigye’s legal team on February 5, requesting an explanation from the Attorney General and the Commissioner General of Prisons regarding their ongoing detention.
During the proceedings, Justice Singiza raised concerns about Besigye’s reported illness, noting that he could not preside over a case with a sick individual present.
“This is an administrative decision. If a prisoner is unwell, I cannot keep him in custody. He could collapse,” said Justice Singiza.
State Defends Detention
State attorneys defended the continued detention of Besigye and Lutale, asserting that the two remain in lawful custody since their case was transferred to civilian courts.
Prosecutors further clarified that the Supreme Court’s ruling on January 31, which declared the trial of civilians in military courts illegal, did not explicitly mandate their release.
This stance contradicts the defense’s argument that the continued detention of the opposition figures is illegal. Besigye’s legal team insists that following the Supreme Court’s ruling, their clients’ ongoing imprisonment amounts to unlawful detention.
After the court session, heavily armed security personnel swiftly escorted Besigye and Lutale back to prison, preventing them from speaking to the press or addressing their supporters.
The High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on the habeas corpus application in the coming days.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount from human rights groups, opposition politicians, and cultural and religious leaders, all calling for Besigye’s immediate release and a return to upholding the rule of law.