Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, have been returned to Luzira Maximum Security Prison under tight security following the hearing of their habeas corpus application at the High Court in Kampala.
The hearing, presided over by Justice Douglas Singiza, was based on an application filed by Besigye’s legal team on February 5. The application sought an explanation from the Attorney General and the Commissioner General of Prisons regarding the continued detention of the two individuals.
During the proceedings, Justice Singiza expressed concern about Besigye’s reported illness, stating that he could not continue with the court session while a sick person was present.
“This is an administrative order. If a prisoner is sick, I can’t continue with him. He might faint,” Singiza remarked.
Citing this concern, Justice Singiza ordered that Besigye and Lutale be returned to prison instead of remaining in court.
The ruling has only intensified concerns from Besigye’s supporters and family, who have repeatedly warned that his health is deteriorating. The unexpected request from Luzira prison authorities for Besigye’s personal doctor to visit him has raised suspicions that his condition may be worsening.
State attorneys defended the continued detention of Besigye and Lutale, arguing that they remain in lawful custody, as their case has been transferred to civilian courts.
The prosecution also stated that the Supreme Court’s ruling on January 31, which declared the trial of civilians in military courts illegal, did not explicitly order their release.
This position directly challenges the defense’s argument that the two opposition figures are being held illegally. Besigye’s lawyers insist that, following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the continued incarceration of their clients amounts to unlawful detention.
After the court proceedings, heavily armed security personnel swiftly escorted Besigye and Lutale back to prison, denying them any opportunity to speak with the press or their supporters.
The High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on the habeas corpus application in the coming days.
Pressure continues to mount from human rights groups, opposition politicians, and religious leaders, all of whom are demanding Besigye’s immediate release and adherence to the rule of law.
