Opposition strongman Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, have been further remanded to Luzira Prison until January 7, 2025.
The decision was made after the defence lawyers informed the General Court Martial in Makindye that their team is not fully constituted, as instructed by their clients.
At the centre of the delay is the denial of a licence to Kenya’s former Justice Minister, Martha Karua, to practise law in Uganda. Karua was set to lead the defence team, but the Uganda Law Council’s decision has thrown a spanner in the works.
The sticking issue in the case remains the question of jurisdiction. Defence lawyers argue that the court, described as a military tribunal, lacks the authority to try Dr. Besigye and Mr. Lutale, who are civilians. This dispute has sparked concerns about the fairness and legitimacy of the trial.
Dr. Besigye and Mr. Lutale were initially charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as threatening Uganda’s security. The prosecution alleges that the two committed these offences in Nairobi, Athens, and Geneva.
