Four-time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Rutale have been charged with four counts of security-related offenses and unlawful possession of firearms. The alleged crimes were reportedly committed at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya.
The two appeared before the Makindye General Court Martial under heavy security. Proceedings were initially delayed for about 15 minutes as Dr. Besigye informed the court that he had been unable to contact a lawyer due to his detention.
According to the prosecution, Besigye and Rutale were found in possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition. They are also accused of holding meetings abroad, allegedly in Nairobi (Kenya), Athens (Greece), and Geneva (Switzerland), to solicit funds aimed at disrupting security.
Erias Lukwago, Besigye’s lawyer, argued that the charges lack jurisdictional merit, stating that the UPDF Act does not extend its jurisdiction to other countries. Lukwago questioned the legality of prosecuting alleged international offenses in a Ugandan military court.
The Court Martial Chairperson, Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe, acknowledged the defense’s submissions but remanded Besigye and Rutale until December 2. He assured the defense team that their concerns would be taken seriously.
Besigye was presented in court more than three days after his family reported his disappearance in Nairobi, describing it as a “kidnap.”
