Ailing veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has been produced before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court in a wheelchair, where he was formally charged with treason before being remanded to Luzira Prison.
Besigye appeared in court alongside his co-accused, UPDF Captain Denis Oola and Hajji Obeid Lutale. The trio was remanded until March 7, 2025, when they will appear before the High Court, as treason is a capital offense that can only be tried at that level.
Allegations and Treason Charges
According to the charge sheet, Besigye and his co-accused, along with others still at large, allegedly conspired to overthrow the government of Uganda by force of arms between 2023 and November 2024. The prosecution claims that they engaged in:
š¹ Secret meetings in Switzerland, Greece, Kenya, and Uganda to strategize on a coup.
š¹ Private discussions and virtual engagements to advance the alleged plot.
š¹ Facilitating Ugandan citizens with military and intelligence training in Kisumu, Kenya.
š¹ Seeking military, financial, and logistical support for their plans.
The primary charge of treason falls under Section 23(1)(c) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128. Additionally, they face an alternative charge of misprision of treason under Section 25, for allegedly failing to report their knowledge of the plot to authorities.
The state prosecution argued that the seriousness of the charges warranted continued detention, as investigations are still ongoing.
Besigyeās case had initially been handled by the General Court Martial, where he faced allegations of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitionāspecifically, two pistols. However, after a January 31, 2025 Supreme Court ruling that halted the trial of civilians in military courts, his case was transferred to the civilian court system. Notably, the latest charge sheet does not include the firearms-related accusations, though there remains a possibility that they could be reinstated.
The prosecution claims that the accused sought to end President Museveniās four-decade rule through coordinated activities in Kampala, Geneva, Nairobi, and Athens.
With his health concerns and the weight of the treason charges, all eyes are now on March 7, 2025, when Besigye and his co-accused will appear before the High Court.
