Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has boycotted the start of his long-delayed trial on treason charges, accusing the presiding judge of bias. The 69-year-old politician, a longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, faces charges that carry the death penalty if convicted.
Why Is Besigye Refusing to Appear in Court?
Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, refused to appear in court on Monday. Their lawyer, Erias Lukwago, explained their stance: “The two have applied to the court to have Judge Emmanuel Baguma recuse himself from the case, but he has refused and they have taken a decision not to appear before him until another judge is appointed.”
The defendants claim that Judge Baguma is biased, citing his refusal to grant them bail. Uganda’s legal limit for detention without trial is six months, but last month the judge ruled that the clock began in February when the charges were formally read, rather than from Besigye’s abduction in November. Their lawyer criticized the ruling as “absurd.”
What Led to the Treason Charges?
Besigye was abducted in Kenya in November before being returned to Uganda, where he was charged with treason. Rights groups have widely condemned the charges, linking them to January’s upcoming election in which Museveni, now 80, seeks another term.
Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, has described his detention as politically motivated and “inhumane.”
How Has the Case Evolved?
Initially, Besigye’s case was handled by a military court, but the Supreme Court later ruled that civilians cannot be tried in military courts. However, Museveni has since signed a law reinstating military trials for civilians under what he termed “exceptional circumstances.”
The developments have fueled concerns that the judicial system is being used to silence political opposition, deepening international criticism of Museveni’s government.
By Lucky Anyanje
