Besigye Treason Trial Delayed Again Due to Prosecutor Absence

The High Court in Kampala was compelled to postpone the treason trial of prominent opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye on Wednesday. The hearing was scheduled to resume at 11:00 AM, but the court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, had to adjourn prematurely due to the absence of the two state prosecutors, Assistant DPP Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka.

Defense lawyers, led by Farouk Kizito Kamulegeya, informed Justice Baguma that their prosecution counterparts were engaged in another court session. Mr. Kamulegeya requested a 30-minute adjournment, explaining that the accused individuals were also not present, with no communication from prison authorities.

However, an visibly irritated Justice Baguma opted for a more significant adjournment, setting the next hearing for October 5th. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of timely communication and the perceived lack of seriousness, stating, “This is not a court of games. I am giving it a last adjournment.”

The day’s proceedings were anticipated to include a ruling on the admissibility of a flash disk. This storage device was presented by the second prosecution witness, Mr. Medadi Ssentanda, a lecturer from Makerere University, who claimed it contained secretly recorded videos and audios related to an alleged plot by Dr. Besigye to overthrow the government.

The prosecution alleges that Dr. Besigye, along with Mr. Lutale and Captain Denis Oola, held meetings in various locations, including Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi, as part of a plan to destabilize the current administration. The accused have pleaded not guilty to these charges. Dr. Besigye himself has not been present for recent hearings following an incident where he collapsed in court during a protest against his legal representation.