KAMPALA, Uganda — On Monday, opposition figures in Uganda issued urgent calls for the release of a fellow leader who is facing military trial amid a legal dispute. This comes after the country’s highest court determined that civilians should not be subjected to military courts.
Kizza Besigye, who has run for president four times, has been imprisoned since he was forcibly taken from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16. Shortly after his abduction, he and an aide were presented to a military tribunal in Uganda’s capital, where they faced charges including illegal firearm possession and threats to national security. Recently, the military tribunal also charged him with treachery, an offense that carries a potential death sentence.
The Supreme Court’s ruling last week questioned the appropriateness of military officers adjudicating cases involving civilians and was met with approval by Besigye’s supporters and legal advocates who view it as a potential resolution to his military trial challenges. “Besigye is currently unlawfully detained in Luzira,” stated Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, an opposition lawmaker, referencing the maximum-security facility.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, an opposition leader and ally of Besigye, emphasized the obligation of Ugandans to uphold the court’s verdict. In contrast, President Museveni, who has ruled with an iron fist since 1986, responded to the Supreme Court decision by asserting that “the country is not governed by the judges.”
Oryem Nyeko, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch focusing on Africa, regarded the Supreme Court’s decision as a significant advancement in the quest for fair trial rights in Uganda. He urged the Ugandan government to provide justice for those civilians who have been wrongfully convicted in military courts and those who are yet to stand trial.
Besigye was scheduled to make another appearance before the military panel on Monday; however, the hearing was postponed due to a heavy security presence around the court area. The 68-year-old politician has experienced numerous arrests and assaults throughout his career but has never been found guilty of any crime.
Amnesty International has joined the call for Besigye’s release, asserting that his abduction blatantly contravened international human rights standards and fair trial protocols typically expected during extradition processes.
As Uganda approaches presidential elections next year, Besigye’s situation is being closely monitored by citizens wary of potential political shifts. Although many anticipate that Museveni will run for re-election, some speculate he might opt to step down.
There are concerns over an uncertain political future, particularly due to Museveni’s lack of a clear successor within the National Resistance Movement party, which raises fears about the upcoming transition. Besigye, a trained physician with a background in the military, previously held the position of president of the Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda’s leading opposition party for numerous years. Once an ally of Museveni, he has been a long-time critic since their falling out in the 1990s, when he accused Museveni of moving toward authoritarian rule.
