KAMPALA– On Tuesday, High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma declined to recuse himself from hearing the Treason case against veteran Politician Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye and two others.
Besigye and his aidee Hajji Obeid Lutale, through their lawyer Erias Lukwago, had asked Justice Baguma to step aside from hearing the case over biasness and other accusations.
Besigye’s lawyers when asked to put the accusations in writing, they pointed out two grounds for the recusal application and these were; That there was a Prolonged delay in fixing a date for this application, Secondly, The dismissal of MA No. 399 of 2025 application for mandatory bail.
“Although this application was filed on 22nd April 2025, it was allocated to me on 28th of April 2025 following my transfer from Civil Division to this division. this honorable court started with fixing cases on first in first out basis. And this particular application was not among the old filed bail applications. The alleged prolonged fixing does not amount to reasonable apprehension of bias because this court was basing on fist in first out.”
He also emphasized that, the nature of our work as judges, they are obliged to look at the facts and the law without fear, favour or ill will. In addition, they took oath and pledged to uphold the
same.
” It is my strong stand that facts and the law should always determine where our decisions as judges should go but not the wishes, blackmail and intimidation of people.”
Baguma also reminded the applicants, that the accused have no right to choose which Judge should hear their case.
On the other hand , hearing of the main case against Besigye, has been fixed for 1st September 2025.
