Chaotic Scenes in Court Martial as Besigye & Lutale Arrive, Demand the Release of His Lawyer

Tension was high at the General Court Martial in Makindye as Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale appeared for their ongoing trial.The case, centered on allegations of unlawful possession of firearms, took a dramatic turn earlier this month when UPDF prosecutors sought to amend the charge sheet to include an unidentified individual.

The courtroom atmosphere grew more heated as Besigye demanded the release of his lawyer, Kiiza Eron, who is serving a controversial nine-month sentence.

In the previous court sitting, Besigye argued that Eron was entitled to receive rulings on critical objections raised during the trial.

These objections include the jurisdiction of the Court Martial over civilians and claims of a defective charge sheet.

The defense team has already signaled their intention to appeal Eron’s sentence, describing it as a miscarriage of justice.

“This is not just about one lawyer; it’s about the fundamental rights of every Ugandan to access competent legal representation,” a defense lawyer stated outside the court.

Observers say the addition of a new suspect to the charge sheet raises more questions than answers, with critics accusing the prosecution of attempting to manipulate the proceedings.

“The timing is suspicious, and it only serves to complicate an already contentious trial,” one legal analyst commented.

LINK: https://x.com/SNabakooza1/status/1878686843593712088

Besigye and Lutale, who have consistently denied the charges, maintain that the Court Martial lacks jurisdiction to try civilians. Their trial has drawn significant public attention, with many viewing it as a politically motivated case aimed at silencing dissent