Besigye Lacked Prudence to Overthrow Government, Testifies 'Orlando'

Andrew Wilson, a British-American operative testifying under the alias ‘Orlando’, has told the High Court in Kampala that Dr. Kizza Besigye was “unwise” and lacked the necessary prudence to successfully plot the overthrow of the Ugandan government. Wilson, who claims to have been working as a government operative, stated that Besigye failed to recognize him as such during their meetings.

During his testimony, Wilson pointed to several instances he believes demonstrate Besigye’s naivety. He recounted how Besigye allegedly failed to detect that he was being offered fake currency, which Wilson claims was part of a scheme to destabilize Uganda’s economy. Furthermore, Wilson highlighted Besigye’s repeated willingness to meet at venues chosen by Wilson, including his private residence, which Wilson argues made it easier for him to install surveillance equipment.

Wilson also questioned Besigye’s decision to meet him in Athens after a planned training camp in Kisumu, Kenya, fell through. Wilson, who was supposed to attend the camp under a fictitious company, failed to appear. He suggested that Besigye should have been suspicious of his absence and the lack of a substantial explanation, indicating that these circumstances should have revealed Wilson’s true identity as a government operative.

Videos presented in court reportedly showed Besigye inquiring about how details of the planned training camp had been leaked. Wilson stated that a person aiming to work with organized crime to overthrow a government would need to be highly disciplined and prudent, qualities he believes Besigye lacked. Wilson concluded that Besigye’s greatest risk was not his capability to overthrow the government, but rather the potential for him to become a security liability due to his perceived lack of discernment.

This account is based on testimony provided to the High Court. Source: Nile Post.