Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has said that former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye remains innocent in the court of public opinion, despite facing treason charges in the formal justice system.
Speaking during the annual Rule of Law Week organized by the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Otafiire emphasized that all individuals, regardless of political background, deserve a fair trial.
He specifically referenced the legal battle involving Dr. Besigye, his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Capt. Denis Oola. The trio faces treason charges related to allegations of plotting to overthrow the Ugandan government.
“Everyone involved in political struggles, including Dr. Besigye, must be tried in a court of law, where they can be either condemned or absolved,” Otafiire said.
Addressing Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka directly, Otafiire reminded him that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) falls under his purview. He criticized the prolonged detention of suspects without a public explanation of the charges.
“Honestly, keeping a man in jail for eight months and declaring him guilty without telling us what he has done what do you expect us to think? As laymen in the court of public opinion, he is innocent until proven otherwise,” Otafiire stated.
“No citizen should be denied a fair trial. You may like me or hate me for saying this but as far as I’m concerned, nothing lost and nothing gained by speaking the truth.”
According to the state’s charge sheet, Dr. Besigye, Lutale, and Capt. Oola were allegedly abducted in Nairobi in 2024 after attending a book launch hosted by Kenyan politician Martha Karua. Prosecutors claim the trio traveled to countries including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, where they participated in meetings aimed at orchestrating a regime change in Uganda.
The meetings, allegedly both physical and virtual, were said to involve collaborators based in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala.
In addition to direct involvement, the accused are also charged with failing to report knowledge of treasonous activities to the appropriate authorities, a legal requirement under Ugandan law.
While the case continues in court, Gen. Otafiire’s remarks have stirred renewed debate about the fairness of Uganda’s judicial system and the treatment of political opponents.
