Besigye, Lutale remanded to Luzira until December 10
Presiding over the session, Court Martial Chairperson Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe declined an adjournment to the following day, citing prior commitments. Instead, he set December 10 as the next hearing date.
The General Court Martial in Makindye has remanded retired Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Haji Obeid Lutale, to Luzira Prison until December 10, 2024.
The court’s decision followed a request by Besigye’s defense team to adjourn proceedings to allow Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua to obtain a practicing certificate from the Uganda Law Council.
Presiding over the session, Court Martial Chairperson Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe declined an adjournment to the following day, citing prior commitments. Instead, he set December 10 as the next hearing date.
Prosecutor Col. Raphael Mugisha questioned the necessity of the adjournment, but defense lawyer Erias Lukwago argued that resolving the licensing issue was crucial for a fair trial. After consulting the Judge Advocate, Mugabe ruled in favor of the defense’s request.
Besigye and Lutale face charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and a firearm. The pair, arrested in Kenya, have consistently denied the allegations.
This isn’t the first time Besigye has faced the Court Martial. In 2006, he was charged with treason, rape, and concealment of treason cases that were later dismissed. Since announcing his presidential ambitions, Besigye has been repeatedly charged in various courts, though no conviction has been secured. He maintains that these cases are politically motivated efforts to silence him.
