KAMPALA.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has preferred charges of treason against Former Forum for Democratic Change President Dr Kizza Besigye and his two co accused who were facing similar charges before Makindye based General Court Martial before the Supreme Court land mark Judgment.
The Supreme Court ruling of January 31, 2025 suspended the trying of civilians before the General Court Martial and ordered that all pending cases be handed over to the DPP for prosecution in Courts of Judicature.
Before , all the three suspects Dr Besigye, his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale and Captain Oola Dennis ,a UPDF serving officer attached to the Armoured Brigade in Masaka City have been in various detention facilities awaiting the next step on their case.
According to the new charge sheet, the trio is charged with treason.
Prosecution alleges that between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places/ countries including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, hatched a plot, act or matter by force of arms to overturn the Government of Uganda as by law established and expressed or declared such plot, act or matter by utterances and overt acts.
That these included ; travelling to various countries including Switzerland, Greece,
Kenya for purposes of attending meetings to further the plot
to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established, attending meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually in various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kampala in Uganda in furtherance of the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.
The trio also face an alternative charge , were it is alleged that they with others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, knowing that another person intended to commit treason, did not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police Station or use all reasonable endeavors to prevent the commission of the treason.
The accused did not take plea before the Magistrates Court as they charges were just read to them because it’s a capital offence which can only be tried by the High Court.
The magistrate adjourned the matter to March 7 . But Mr Lukwago said are working around the clock to file for bail today ,Friday so that the ailing Dr Besigye can access better medical care outside Luzira Maximum Prison.
“We are proceeding with processing his bail. We want the application to be filed today,” he said.
Besigye ends hunger strike :
“Now that Dr Besigye has been formally arraigned before the magistrate’s court here (Nakawa, Kampala) on charges of treason. He has decided to call off the hunger strike since there’s now a valid remand warrant from this honourable court. He went on hunger strike protesting against illegal incarceration. Since January 31, the proceedings of the General Court Marital had been quashed and there was no pending charge and they had not been produced before court to be charged on any offence. Now that they have brought him we now have to follow the due process,” Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago one of Dr Besigye’s lawyers said .