Court Martial to address jurisdictional questions in Besigye’s military trial
Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Kamulegeya Lutale arrive at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala on December 10, 2024. hey face charges related to security offenses, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. PHOTO | ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- The court, presided over by Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, is expected to address several key matters, including whether it has the authority to try civilians and whether it can entertain charges related to offenses allegedly committed outside the country.
Shortly before 9 a.m, a drone quietly entered the heavily guarded General Court Martial at Makindye, escorted by two military pickup trucks. Upon arrival, there were no supporters inside the court premises to welcome Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Kamulegeya Lutale, with the usual fanfare that marked their previous appearances.
A small group of supporters outside the court erupted into ululations when they saw Dr Besigye emerge from the drone. He and Lutale were then escorted to the court's holding cells.
At the time of filing this story, none of their defense lawyers had arrived at court, and the session was yet to begin.
The court, presided over by Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, is expected to address several key matters, including whether it has the authority to try civilians and whether it can entertain charges related to offenses allegedly committed outside the country.
Last month, Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale were arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, and forcibly brought back to Uganda by road through the eastern border post before being charged in the military court. They face charges related to security offenses, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Their court appearance comes just hours after the Uganda Law Council rejected granting a special practicing certificate to Kenyan opposition politician and former Justice Minister, Ms Martha Karua, who is also Dr Besigye’s lead lawyer.
The Law Council argued that Ms Karua had failed to demonstrate how her legal expertise would add value to Dr Besigye’s team of over 30 lawyers and suggested that her intentions appeared to be more political than professional.
