Opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, will remain behind bars for the foreseeable future after being slapped with fresh treason charges on February 21, 2025. The charges, which have escalated his ongoing legal battle, ensure that Besigye will not walk free just yet, as he cannot plead to the allegations until further proceedings unfold.
Besigye, who has long been a prominent figure in Uganda’s political opposition, now faces these grave accusations alongside his associate Obeid Lutale. The pair has been charged with treason in a case that was shifted from the General Court Martial to the Nakawa Magistrates Court—a move that follows the court’s ruling that the General Court Martial was not an appropriate venue for trying civilians.
This marks not the first time Besigye has faced charges of this nature. In 2005, he was accused of masterminding the People’s Redemption Army, a rebel group formed by disgruntled former members of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Despite the years that have passed, the gravity of the charges has only intensified, leaving Besigye once again entangled in legal struggles that threaten his political future
During the pair’s most recent appearance in court on February 18, 2025, an unusual presence of counterterrorism officers at Buganda Road Court hinted at the possibility of fresh developments. The show of force suggested that the state was preparing to charge Besigye and Lutale with more serious allegations, signaling a new chapter in what has been a tumultuous legal saga.
The fresh charges were formally brought forward at the Nakawa Magistrates Court, where Besigye was wheeled in under heavy security. The court, which does not have the jurisdiction to hear capital offenses like treason, confirmed that the opposition leader and Lutale would remain in custody as the case proceeds.
The decision to transfer the case from the General Court Martial came after it was deemed unlawful for civilians to be tried there. This is a critical development, as it ensures that Besigye and Lutale’s trial will now be conducted under the jurisdiction of a civilian court, which will follow a different process than the military court system.
On February 20, 2025, a production warrant was issued for Dr. Besigye, ordering his presence in court the following day. The warrant, signed by the Chief Magistrate, read:
“You are hereby directed to produce Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye before the Chief Magistrates Court of Nakawa at 9:00 am on the 21st day of February 2025.”
With Besigye now in Nakawa Court, the specific details of the treason charges have yet to be made public. However, legal experts speculate that the nature of the accusations will become clearer in subsequent court hearings. It is expected that further information will be revealed as the case unfolds, with Besigye’s defense team likely to challenge the charges on both procedural and substantive grounds.
Meanwhile, the political ramifications of these charges continue to reverberate throughout Uganda. Besigye, a former presidential candidate and leader of the opposition, remains a vocal critic of the government. His supporters fear that these charges may be politically motivated, aimed at silencing his dissent. With the opposition leader now facing multiple legal battles, his fate will be closely watched both by his supporters and his critics.
