Besigye remains in custody as court hears plea for his release

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye. [File, Courtesy] Ugandan High Court Judge Douglas Singiza has ruled that opposition leader Kizza Besigye will remain in custody as his legal team continues to push for his release. The decision came minutes after Besigye appeared in court for a hearing on his habeas corpus plea. Judge Singiza cited concerns over Besigye's health but directed his lawyers to proceed with the case in his absence. Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, have been in detention since their abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, in November last year. They were later charged with security-related offenses and treachery at the General Court Martial. However, last month, Uganda's Supreme Court ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts, raising further questions about the legitimacy of their detention. The continued detention of Besigye has sparked condemnation from political leaders, civil society groups, and human rights organisations in Kenya and Uganda. Uganda's Parliament Speaker, Anita Among, warned that detaining Besigye sets a dangerous precedent. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland echoed these concerns, stating: "We are deeply troubled by the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Eron Kiiza, which undermines the ruling of the Supreme Court of Uganda and the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law." Meanwhile, political activists in Western Uganda took to the streets of Mbarara City on Wednesday, demanding Besigye's release. Security forces were also deployed outside the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Makerere Kavule ahead of planned opposition prayers for Besigye and other detainees. President Yoweri Museveni defended the remand, insisting that Besigye's case aligns with the law. He suggested that Besigye was allegedly involved in a plot to destabilize the country. "Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu. I have seen the concern by some Ugandans regarding the remanding of Dr. Besigye for the very serious offences he is alleged to have been planning. If you want a stable country, the more correct question should be; Why was Dr. Besigye arrested? The answer to that is a quick trial so that facts come out. Otherwise, you are promoting insecurity, which is very dangerous for the country. Nobody in the world can easily give us lectures on reconciliation and forgiveness because that is part of our doctrine right from the 1960s," Museveni posted on X. Adding to the controversy, Museveni's son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, further sparked public debate by conducting an online poll asking Ugandans whether Besigye should be forgiven or face extreme punishment. The move reignited concerns about the military's influence in Uganda's political landscape and raised further questions about the charges against Besigye. This is not the first time Besigye has been detained, but, it is the first time he is in custody under unclear offences. Wednesday's court proceedings will determine whether Besigye and his aide will be released or remain in custody as legal battles and public outcry escalate.

Besigye remains in custody as court hears plea for his release

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Besigye remains in custody as court hears plea for his release

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