Besigye to spend Christmas in prison
Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale before the General Court Martial on December 10, 2024. PHOTO | ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- The lengthy adjournment was granted after the state argued that a shorter one-week extension, as requested by Besigye’s defense team, was insufficient for them to reorganise.
Veteran opposition stalwart Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale will spend Christmas in Luzira prison where the General Court Martial this afternoon further remanded them until January 7, 2025 when his case will come up again for mention.
The long adjournment was granted after the state reasoned that a shorter one of a week that Besigye’s defense team had requested for, was not sufficient to reorganise their team.
Mr Erias Lukwago, who led the team of about 40 defense lawyers, submitted that they could not proceed with the case following the denial of a temporary practicing certificate to their designated lead counsel, Martha Karua, a Kenyan opposition stalwart and former Justice Minister.
He therefore, asked the court led by Brig Robert Freeman Mugabe to adjourn the proceedings to enable them reorganise themselves and also get instructions from their clients (Dr Besigye and Lutale) on who leads his defense team given the new developments.
The duo's court appearance came just hours after the Uganda Law Council rejected Ms Karua’s application for a temporary practcising certificate to allow her lead Dr Besigye defence lawyers before the army court.
The Law Council, among others, claimed Ms Karua hadn't demonstrated that she would bring any special legal expertise to the four-time presidential contender’s legal team of over 40 lawyers.
They also claimed her intentions to practice law in Uganda were more political than professional in nature.
Dr Besigye and his aide, Hajj Lutale were on November 16, 2024 allegedly abducted from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi where they had travelled to attend Ms Karua’s book launch before they were brought back into Uganda by road through the eastern border post and later arraigned in the military court.
They face charges related to security, and being in unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
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