Kampala, (UG);- Veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye Kifefe together with Hajj Obeid Lutale have been charged and remanded to prison on offences relating to the illegal possession of firearms outside the country and threatening Uganda’s security.
Besigye, who was Tuesday reported missing after going AWOL for nearly 5 days today appeared at the General Court Martial in Makindye alongside Hajj Lutale after they were allegedly found with two pistols with eight rounds of ammunition over the weekend.
Army Prosecution told the court chaired by Brig Freeman Mugabe that Col (rtd) Dr Besigye, Hajj Lutale and others still at large between October 2023 and November 2024 while in the cities of Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece and Nairobi in Kenya held meetings aimed at soliciting for logistical support and identifying military targets in Uganda with intent to prejudice the security of the Defence Forces.
Besigye however denied the charges and refused to be charged in the army court saying he is a civilian who deserves justice through the civil courts. “I object to the court of the military because I am not a member of the UPDF, and I ask that I be tried in a civilian court if I have committed any offence,” the four-time presidential candidate said.
“I don’t have the laws with me. I cannot respond, my lawyers haven’t been briefed. I think it would be unfair to make a ruling before we have had the benefit of legal representation,” Besigye added.
Dr Besigye’s lawyers led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago told journalists how they have not had access to the accused persons yet they deserve to first interact with the accused to know the entire story and get instructions from the accused.
“All we know is that Dr Besigye travelled to Nairobi and we don’t know how he ended up here. We have been searching for the whereabouts of Dr. Besigye since he went missing, and we learnt that is being brought here,” Lukwago said on the afternoon.
“And as you are aware, there are so many parties that are concerned with this matter. And as one of the lawyers who are concerned in this matter, I had to step in to ensure that justice is done. But as to whether we need to have instructions from him or not, that is a matter which is subject to a pronouncement, a decision of this honourable court,” the Lord Mayor, who is also President of the FDC-Katonga faction added.
The Court Martial Chairman, Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe, remanded Besigye and Hajj Lutale to Luzira prison until December 2nd when they will reappear in the dock for further hearing of the case as prosecution concludes investigations.
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