Uganda’s veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye was wheeled into the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala, appearing frail and visibly weakened, as he faced fresh charges of treason.
The four-time presidential candidate, alongside his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Captain Denis Oola, was remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison until March 7, 2025, following a brief but emotionally charged court session.
The scene underscored the ongoing saga of Besigye’s confrontations with the Ugandan state, a narrative marked by repeated arrests, legal battles, and deteriorating health amid allegations of political persecution.
Besigye’s arrival at Nakawa Court was dramatic, with reports indicating he was brought in secretly under tight security, a move that fueled speculation about the government’s intent to minimize public attention.
Supporters and onlookers expressed alarm at his frailty, attributing it to a hunger strike he began in early February to protest what he calls an "illegal detention," compounded by the harsh conditions at Luzira. His legal team, led by Erias Lukwago, highlighted his struggle to breathe during the proceedings, raising urgent concerns about his wellbeing.
The treason charges stem from Besigye’s alleged activities between October 2023 and November 2024, during which he is accused, alongside Lutale and Oola, of plotting to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government by force.
The prosecution, represented by state attorneys, claims Besigye held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi to solicit logistical support and identify military targets in Uganda, an accusation carrying the death penalty under Uganda’s Penal Code Act.
This follows his dramatic abduction in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, after which he resurfaced in Kampala facing initial charges of illegal firearm possession and treachery in a military court. The shift to civilian court for treason charges marks a new chapter in what critics call a relentless campaign to silence him.
The courtroom atmosphere was tense, with Besigye’s supporters visibly distraught as he was remanded. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, has been vocal about his declining health and the government’s refusal to grant bail, warning that his life hangs in the balance.
The decision to remand him until March 7 extending his detention without bail has intensified accusations of judicial overreach and political vendetta, especially as Uganda approaches the 2026 elections, where Besigye remains a symbolic figure for the opposition despite his physical absence from the campaign trail.