Army Court Charges Besigye with Treason

Prosecution at the General Court Martial has added treason charges to Dr. Besigye and Hajji Obeid Kamulegeya’s charge sheet.

The pair is also co-jointly charged with UPDF officer Capt. Dennis Ola, an officer attached to the Armoured Brigade. 

According to the lead prosecutor, Col. Rapheal Mugisha, the new developments were unearthed during an ongoing investigation. 

Now the state moves to amend the chargsheet to introduce the 4th charge and also capt. Ola as an accused.  

However Defence lawyers are objecting to the new development of introducing a serving army officer on the charge sheet calling it a ruse for court to overrule their objection regarding the jurisdiction of the court martial to try civilians for offences committed outside Uganda .

Besigye and Hajji Obeid are already on remand on charges relating to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunitions.

Earlier Besigye’s lawyers had asked the court martial for orders that their jailed colleague Eron Kiiza be  produced in court to execute his special roles in representing the accused and then be returned to Kitalya prison . 

The lawyers led by  Kenyan activist Martha Karua insist Eron kiiza is Still on the list of advocates to represent Doctor Besigye and Hajji Obeid Kamulegeya and was assigned a special task which can’t be executed by any other lawyer in the case. 

They pleaded with court that they will be unable to efficiently represent their clients  when they are less than the agreed number. 

Eron Kiiza was last week sentenced to serve a nine month imprisonment term at Kitalya prison for contempt of the court martial.  

The lawyers are also concerned with the altered defence team and want the chairman of the court Brig . Gen Freeman Mugabe to pronounce himself on the validity of the proceedings in regard to the change in court members.