KAMPALA –
The High Court in Kampala has set August 6 as the date for hearing the bail applications for veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale.
This is the second time the duo is seeking to be released on bail, pending trial on treason charges but the first attempt was frustrated by prosecution .
The bail application will be heard by High Court judge Emmanuel Baguma.
The two politicians also face an alternative charge of misprision of treason. Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer, Captain Denis Oola, attached to the Masaka based Armoured Brigade.
Allegations
It is alleged that Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large between 2023 and November 2024 at various places/countries including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya and Kampala in Uganda, contrived a plot act 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.
According to the charge sheet Besigye, Lutale, Oola and others still at large between 2023 and November 2024, in the same countries, 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 endeavours to prevent the commission of treason.
Particulars of overt acts
Prosecution alleges that the accused persons travelled to various countries, including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, for purposes of attending meetings to further the plot to overturn the Government of Uganda.
Court documents indicate that the accused persons attended meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually in various places, including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya and Kampala in furtherance of the plot to overturn the Government of Uganda.
According to the court documents, the accused persons provided logistical support and organising for several Ugandan citizens to travel to Kisumu, Kenya, for the purpose of receiving training in various military and intelligence gathering techniques.
It is further alleged that the trio solicited for military, financial and other logistical support to overturn the Government.