Besigye pushes for court decision on lawyers before treason trial begins
Defence lawyers told the court that Besigye and Lutale wish to be represented by a team led by Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua and Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago.
The High Court on Monday deferred substantive proceedings in the treason case involving opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye after the defence insisted that a dispute over legal representation must be resolved before the trial can commence.
Appearing before the Criminal Division, Besigye argued that the court should first determine who is legally entitled to represent him and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, saying the issue is inseparable from their constitutional right to a fair trial.
The two are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason, offences they have denied.
Defence lawyers told the court that Besigye and Lutale wish to be represented by a team led by Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua and Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago.
They submitted that beginning the trial before settling the matter would prejudice the defence and risk undermining the integrity of the proceedings.
State prosecutors opposed any further delay, maintaining that the accused already have legal representation and urging the court to proceed with hearing the case.
The legal representation dispute follows a series of procedural disagreements that have slowed progress in the case, including the dismissal of the accused’s bail application after they declined to continue with proceedings in the absence of members of their preferred legal team.
The presiding judge is expected to first pronounce himself on the question of legal representation before determining the next course of action in the trial.
The decision is expected to have significant implications for one of Uganda’s most closely watched criminal cases, which continues to draw national and international attention.
