High Court Justice Emmanuel Baguma has blocked former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye from raising his concerns in court after spending 10 months in prison.
Besigye sought to raise a concern during court proceedings; however, the presiding judge directed him to channel it through his legal team.
“I wish to present a matter of concern before I proceed with the court. I would like to inform this court that…,” Besigye said.
The presiding judge, however, instructed him to communicate through his bench of 10 lawyers, led by Counsel Martha Karua.
“Dr. Besigye should put his concerns in writing, and court will respond to them on October 8, 2025,” he ruled.
Besigye’s lawyers contested the decision, arguing that there is no law barring an accused person from raising their concerns in person.
In August, the High Court dismissed a mandatory bail application filed by the trio. The suspects had filed a petition in June, challenging an earlier decision by the Nakawa Magistrates Court that denied them bail despite having been on remand for over six months.
Their legal challenge followed the dissolution of the General Court Martial by the Supreme Court, which had previously been handling their case.
The bail hearing was presided over by Justice Baguma, with legal representation for the defense provided by high-profile lawyers Martha Karua and Erias Lukwago.
Dr. Besigye’s sureties included Dr. Thaddeus Nicholas Kamara, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, former Leader of Opposition Wafula Oguttu, and Arnold Muhindo.
However, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka, representing the DPP, opposed the application. He argued that the charges were grave and capital in nature, and that the application was premature since investigations were still ongoing.
In a ruling delivered via email, Justice Baguma determined that the accused did not qualify for mandatory bail, stating that the 180-day period required under the law had not yet lapsed.
“Since 180 days hadn’t elapsed by the May 28 filing, the mandatory bail application is dismissed,” the judge ruled.
He clarified that the 180-day countdown began on February 21, 2025, when the suspects were officially remanded by the Nakawa Magistrates Court not from the time of their initial detention under the military court.
According to the charge sheet, the accused were allegedly abducted in Nairobi in 2024 after attending a book launch hosted by Martha Karua. Prosecutors allege that Dr. Besigye, Lutale, and Capt. Oola traveled to countries including Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya, where they participated in meetings aimed at planning the overthrow of the Ugandan government.
The state further claims that these meetings both physical and virtual involved collaborators based in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala.
Additionally, it is alleged that between 2023 and November 2024, the trio failed to report knowledge of treasonous activities to appropriate authorities, such as a minister, magistrate, or police officer, as required by Ugandan law.
