UPDF Generals, British Businessman to Testify Against Besigye in Treason Trial

Current and former military intelligence chiefs, senior army officers and a British businessman are among witnesses the prosecution intends to call in the treason trial of opposition veteran Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya.

The identities of the witnesses emerged on Monday when prosecutors served the defence team with more than 800 pages of witness statements and approximately seven hours of audio recordings before Justice Emmanuel Baguma.

Among those listed are Maj. Gen. Richard Otto, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, incarcerated senior military officer Maj. Gen. James Birungi, and a British businessman whose testimony is expected to form part of the state’s case against the two accused men.

The defence immediately protested the volume of material and the timeline set by the court.

Justice Baguma directed the accused persons to review the disclosure within seven days and fixed June 8 for further proceedings, a decision that drew sharp criticism from the defence, which argued that the period was insufficient given the seriousness of the charges.

Dr. Besigye instructed his legal team to challenge the ruling, arguing that forcing the defence to review hundreds of pages of evidence and hours of recordings within a week violates the constitutional right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defence.

The opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) accused the court of facilitating what it described as a politically motivated prosecution.

“The mask of justice has completely fallen,” the party said in a statement after the hearing, arguing that the state had delayed disclosure for months before seeking to rush the defence into trial preparations.

The party further alleged that the prosecution only revealed the identities of previously concealed witnesses during Monday’s proceedings despite an earlier court order requiring full disclosure.

Treason Charges

Dr. Besigye and Lutale are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason, among the most serious offences under Uganda’s laws after being arrested from Nairobi in November 2024.

According to the prosecution, between 2003 and November 2024, the accused persons and others still at large allegedly participated in a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.

The charge sheet alleges that the alleged activities occurred in several cities, including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya and Kampala in Uganda.

Prosecutors contend that the accused held meetings and engaged in activities linked to efforts to remove the government through unlawful means.

In the alternative charge of misprision of treason, the state alleges that Besigye and Lutale knew of plans by another person or persons to commit treason but failed to report the information to the authorities or take steps to prevent the alleged offence.

Both accused men have denied all the allegations.

High-Stakes Trial

The case has attracted significant political and public interest because of Besigye’s status as one of Uganda’s most prominent opposition leaders and longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s government.

The appearance of senior military officers and intelligence officials on the witness list suggests the prosecution intends to rely heavily on security and intelligence evidence in its attempt to prove the charges.

The defence has maintained that the case is politically motivated and insists that both Besigye and Lutale are innocent.

With constitutional challenges looming and key military witnesses expected to take the stand, the trial is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched court battles in Uganda in recent years.

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