By Detained veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, his aide Obeid Lutale, and UPDF soldier Captain Denis Oola of the Armoured Brigade have been formally charged with treason at Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court. A visibly weakened Besigye was wheeled into the courtroom by prison warders from Luzira, amidst heavy security presence.
These charges follow a January 31 Supreme Court ruling that halted the General Court Martial from prosecuting civilians, mandating the transfer of their cases to competent civilian courts. The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and November 2024, Dr. (Col. Rtd.) Besigye, 67; Lutale, 65; Captain Oola, 48; and others at large, conspired in various locations—including Geneva, Switzerland; Athens, Greece; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kampala, Uganda—to overthrow the Ugandan government by force of arms.
Specific allegations include:
-
Traveling to countries such as Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya to attend meetings aimed at advancing the plot to overthrow the Ugandan government.
-
Participating in both physical and virtual meetings in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala to further this plot.
-
Making statements expressing the intent to overthrow the government.
-
Organizing and facilitating the travel of Ugandan citizens to Kisumu, Kenya, for training in military and intelligence techniques.
-
Seeking military, financial, and logistical support to execute the overthrow.
Additionally, they face an alternative charge of misprision of treason under Section 25 of the Penal Code Act, for allegedly failing to report knowledge of another person’s intent to commit treason to the appropriate authorities.
During the court session, the accused were not permitted to enter pleas, as treason is a capital offense triable only by the High Court. The state prosecutor requested an adjournment, citing incomplete investigations. Defense attorney Erias Lukwago petitioned for Dr. Besigye’s transfer to a medical facility outside prison for adequate treatment. However, Magistrate Esther Nyadoi declined, citing jurisdictional constraints, and remanded the accused to Luzira Prison until March 7, 2025, for further mention of the case.
