The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) general court-martial mid this week remanded Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Obeid Lutaale Kamulegeya to Luzira and Kitalya prisons, respectively.
Appearing before the Makindye-based military court on Wednesday afternoon, chaired by Brigadier Freeman Mugabe, the duo faced four charges related to security, including conspiring against Uganda’s security and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The prosecution, led by Raphael Mugisha, alleged that between October 2023 and November 2024, while in Geneva, Switzerland, Athens, Greece, and Nairobi, Kenya, the accused held meetings aimed at soliciting logistical support and identifying military targets in Uganda to compromise the security of the defence forces.
On a separate count, the prosecution claimed that on November 16, 2024, at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya, Besigye and Kamulegeya were allegedly found in possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mugisha informed the court that investigations were ongoing and requested that the accused be remanded until December 2, 2024.
Earlier, Besigye contested the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that neither he nor his co-accused are serving military officers.
He also questioned whether proceedings could continue in the absence of legal representation. However, Brigadier Mugabe ruled that the court had jurisdiction, citing the duo’s alleged possession of firearms as grounds for trial under military law.
The case of Besigye’s arrest and charges has taken the Ugandan public by storm. Some first thought Besigye was doing some political drama that was aimed at his political comeback.
Besigye’s wife Eng Winnie Byanyima who is abroad has made serious attacks on government over her husband’s arrest.
Let’s wait and see how the case progresses if its politics we will know or if Besigye is seriously engaged in subversive activities evidence will be given and the good Dr could face some music in the Ugandan court system for sometime.
