DPP Prefers Treason Charges Against Besigye at Nakawa Court

Reported By Spurb Ernest

Besigye was brought to court in a wheelchair since he is unable to move or walk on his own.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo has preferred charges of treason against opposition politician Retired Col Dr Kizza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutaale Kamulegeya and Captain Denis Oula before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court.

The three whose charges are being transferred from the defunct Court Martial and have been modified to the other charges, have already arrived at Court and await to be formally charged.

Besigye was brought to court in a wheelchair since he is unable to move or walk on his own.

The production follows a request made by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Thursday in Exparte proceedings.

Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko who is the head of the International Crimes Department in the office of the DPP, Assistant DPP  Lino Anguzi and Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka who gained popularity in prosecuting the deceased MP Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana on terrorism charges are appearing on the bar on behalf of the State as the Prosecutors.

The charge sheet indicates that; Besigye, Lutaale Captain Oola and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 in various places/countries including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, contrived a plot, act or matter by force of arms to overturn the Government of Uganda as by law established and expressed or declared such plot, act or matter by utterances and overt acts.

The particulars of the overt acts are; Travelling to various countries including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya for purposes of attending meetings to further the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established, attending meetings with various individuals both physically and virtually various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kampala in Uganda in furtherance of the plot to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.

Others include utterances to various individuals during meetings and privately expressing desire and intent to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established, providing logistical support and organizing for several Ugandan citizens to travel to Kisumu, Kenya to receive training in various military and intelligence gathering techniques and soliciting for military, financial and other logistical support to overturn the government of Uganda as by law established.

In the alternative charge of misprision of treason, the Prosecutors contend thatBesigye, Lutaale and Captain Oola and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, knowing that another person intended to commit treason did not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police Station or use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the treason.

The production of Besigye is likely to have been done to render the High Court habeas application seeking to be released from prison unconditionally useless, as it will be overtaken by events.

The government has previously rushed accused persons to various courts of law to be charged when cases demanding their release are pending before the High Court like it was done a few years back in the case of MP Francis Zaake.

The Courtroom is already filled to capacity amidst heavy security deployment both armed and non-armed, both in uniform and plain clothes.

The production of Besigye and his co-accused follows a decision by the Supreme Court banning the trial of civilians in the Court Martial. The Court also ordered the transfer of all files to civil courts.

The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has no power or jurisdiction to entertain a plea on these charges as they attract death upon conviction because of their gravity and seriousness.

On Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuzi informed Parliament the government had finalised the transfer of files of Dr Kizza Besigye and other prisoners from the General Court Martial to the civilian courts, as directed by the Supreme Court.