Besigye Faces More Charges as State Brings in UPDF Soldier in Treachery Case

Uganda’s political landscape has been shaken once again as veteran opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, alongside his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, faces fresh charges of treachery. The State Prosecution applied to amend the charge sheet against the duo, intensifying their legal battle.

On January 13, remanded political stalwart Dr. Kizza Besigye defied the General Court Martial by refusing to plead to the amended charge of treachery that had been introduced by the State. Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe, the chairman of the General Court Martial, addressed Dr. Besigye, asking, "Col (retired) Kizza Besigye, have you understood the charge read to you?" Despite the charge being read aloud to him and his co-accused, Mr. Obeid Lutale, the chairman of the seven-member military court panel insisted that Dr. Besigye enter a plea to the new charge of treachery.

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Then, Ms. Martha Karua, Dr. Besigye's lead defense attorney, intervened, informing the court that his client had invoked Rule 23 to object to taking the plea and that it would be unfair to inquire as to whether he accepts the accusation or not.

But the former Luweero Bush war physician to President Museveni retorted, “I have heard and responded that I have objections to taking the plea of this charge. I have requested my lawyers to present my objections.” Brig Mugabe, however, insisted on knowing whether Dr. Besigye had accepted the charge or not. In response, Dr. Besigye shot back with a sharp retort, “Accept what?”

State prosecution, led by Colonel Raphael Mugisha, informed Court Chairman Brigadier Freeman Mugabe that the government intends to add a new charge of treachery against a UPDF soldier, Captain Denis Ola, who is attached to the Armoured Brigade. Col Mugisha explained that during the course of investigations, it was revealed that a serving UPDF officer had links to the case, prompting the prosecution to seek an amendment to the charge sheet to include this officer as an additional accused. 

In the treachery charge, the prosecution maintains that the trio between February 2023 and November 2024, in the cities of Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, and in Nairobi, Kenya, and in other diverse places in Uganda, held meetings aimed at soliciting for logistical support and identifying military targets in Uganda with intent to prejudice the security of the Defence Forces

This is not the first time Dr. Besigye has been arraigned before the Court Martial. In 2006, he was charged with treason, rape, and concealment of treason. However, the charges were dismissed.

Since announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Besigye has been confronted with a series of charges in various courts nationwide, yet no convictions have been secured. He has repeatedly claimed that these legal challenges are driven by political motives, accusing the state of using the judicial system as a tool of persecution rather than seeking justice.