Kampala, Uganda: Veteran Ugandan opposition politician, Rtd Col Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale have once again refused to appear before High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma, accusing him of bias in their ongoing treason case.
During Tuesday’s session, defence lawyer Erias Lukwago informed court that his clients would not attend proceedings presided over by Justice Baguma, who had earlier ruled that their focus should be on the main case rather than repeated bail applications.
Lukwago argued that the case was wrongly placed before Justice Baguma since the Nakawa Court had committed Besigye and Lutale to the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court. He reiterated the defence’s demand that the matter be reallocated to another judge, citing fears of impartiality.
In August, Besigye’s defence team petitioned Justice Baguma to step down, accusing him of causing delays and showing bias. The petition followed the judge’s dismissal of their earlier bail application despite the duo having spent over 180 days on remand at Luzira Prison without trial.
The defence insists that procedural delays, particularly Baguma’s failure to fix a hearing date months after the case was filed, raise serious concerns about fairness. In their August 15 letter filed by Lukwago & Co. Advocates, the lawyers accused the judge of judicial partiality and frustrating their clients’ right to a fair hearing.
However, Justice Baguma has refused to withdraw from the matter. Instead, he issued production warrants for the duo to be presented before his court on October 8, when he will hear their second bail application.
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