President Yoweri Museveni has accused former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye and his legal team of deliberately frustrating court proceedings, leading to his prolonged detention.
The President’s position was relayed to residents of Rukungiri by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, during a public engagement held on Museveni’s behalf.
“In February, we expected the trial to begin. The government has been ready since then, and we believed this would be an opportunity for the state’s evidence to be presented in broad daylight, examined, and even challenged by the defence,” Tayebwa said.
He added that developments since then have frustrated the court’s ability to proceed with the trial.
“More than 10 applications, including miscellaneous applications and referrals to the Constitutional Court, have been filed, and all these have delayed the process of an expeditious trial,” he said.
Tayebwa dismissed claims that President Museveni is personally determined to keep Besigye behind bars, noting that the matter is strictly before the courts.
“For those saying the President should release Besigye, the President has no such power under the law. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is independent and does not take instructions from anyone,” he said.
He further stated that after assessing the evidence presented before him, he found that there was a case against the accused. He explained that the state is represented by the DPP, and the President can only intervene after conviction, if Besigye seeks a pardon under the President’s prerogative of mercy, following the laid-down procedures.
However, Besigye’s lawyer, Eria Lukwago, rejected the President’s explanation, describing it as a mockery of justice and a distortion of facts surrounding the case.
“You cannot take Besigye to the General Court Martial to subject him to a sham process and expect us to comply. We went there to challenge and frustrate that process because it was not in line with the due process provided for in the Constitution,” Lukwago said.
“They wanted us to appear before the then chairperson, Brig. Freeman Mugabe, and his team merely to witness a sham process.”
Lukwago further argued that the President is attempting to appeal to public sympathy, particularly among the people of Kigezi and Rukungiri, while absolving himself of responsibility for Besigye’s continued detention since November 16 last year.
He noted that until the General Court Martial was halted on January 31, 2025, Besigye had been in the wrong court, even after a directive from the Constitutional Court ordering the transfer of the case to civilian courts, which was not complied with.
“Why blame the lawyers for that delay? Besigye went an extra mile, almost risking his life by going on a hunger strike, for the file to be transferred,” Lukwago said.
Besigye and his co-accused, Obed Lutale, are expected back in court tomorrow for possible plea-taking and scheduling, following an adjournment earlier this month.
