KAMPALA– Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye and his aidee Hajji Obeid Lutale who are facing treason charges and Misprision of treason have refused to appear again before High Court judge Emmanuel Baguma for their fresh bail application.
It should be remembered that a week ago, Justice Baguma declined to grant mandatory bail to these two on grounds that they had not yet clocked 180 days on remand by Courts of Judicature despite of the submissions that they were Remanded to Prison in November 2024 by General Court Martial.
In his ruling, Baguma noted that the applicants failed to produce evidence that they were on remand from last year and this prompted him to start from 21st February 2025 when Nakawa Magistrates Court remanded them, upto the date of bail application.
However, this didn’t go well with the applicants, their lawyers and other human rights defenders who describe the move as denying the accused persons the right to bail.
On appearing before court on Friday morning, Besigye’s Lawyer Erias Lukwago, the duo informed him that they are no ready to appear before Justice Baguma for their third bail application.
The judge asked Besigye’s Lawyers to put their submissions into writing, so that he can be able to deliver the ruling about recusal on Tuesday next week via Email.
Before this, the judge revealed that the hearing of the duo will commence on 1st September 2025 before him.
The prosecution claims the Dr. Kiiza Besigye , Hajji Obeid Lutale, Captain Dennis Oola, held meetings, solicited funds, and acquired firearms as part of this plot. The group is also accused of failing to report knowledge of the treasonous plans to the appropriate authorities.
It is also further alleged that Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe, a former senior army officer and founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), used international platforms in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi in 2023 and 2024 to coordinate plans to topple the government.
