By Maria Mariam Namala
Businessman Hajj Obeid Lutale has reconstituted his legal team in the treason case against him and Dr Kizza Besigye, with several lawyers now appearing on his behalf following the withdrawal of his previous advocates.
Court heard on Tuesday that Lutale had appointed his daughter, Mariam Lutale, alongside Farouk Kizito Kamulegeya, Wilson Kato and Sylas Ogul of Baraka Legal Associates Advocates
Former member of Besigye’s legal team, Bayern Turinawe, also appeared in court, prompting trial judge Emmanuel Baguma to seek clarification because he had only been informed about the first four lawyers.
Turinawe, a younger brother of Patriotic Front for Freedom women leader and mobilise Ingrid Turinawe, later clarified the matter, with the lawyer explaining that he had appeared specifically to represent Lutale.
The reconstitution of Lutale’s legal team comes after lawyers who had previously represented the accused withdrew from the case, leaving Besigye to conduct much of the defence proceedings himself.
Besigye’s subsequent absence from court after collapsing during proceedings and developing medical complications has affected Lutale’s representation, particularly because Lutale had been relying on Besigye’s legal team and experience during the trial.
Lutale’s co-accused, Captain Denis Oola, has meanwhile accepted state-appointed lawyers, including Julius Serwambala and Sarah Awere, to represent him in the proceedings.
The development comes as the prosecution continues presenting evidence relating to alleged meetings in Athens, Greece, and Geneva, Switzerland.
So far, Lutale has not featured prominently in the evidence presented from the two locations.
However, prosecution witness Andrew Wilson Orlando has previously referred to alleged events in Nairobi, Kenya, where Lutale is said to feature in the prosecution’s narrative.
Wilson has also told court that some video evidence from Nairobi was lost, potentially leaving the Nairobi material as the key evidence linking Lutale to the prosecution’s account of the alleged activities.
The prosecution is expected to continue presenting audio and video evidence as the trial proceeds.