The Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court has committed Dr Kizza Besigye, Obeid Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola to the High court to face charges of treason and misprision of treason.
This followed a submission by chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka, who informed the court that investigations had been completed. Chief magistrate Christine Nantege proceeded to commit the trio in the absence of Besigye’s lawyers, who had stormed out in protest after the magistrate declined to halt proceedings and refer the case to the High court.
Besigye’s legal team, which includes Kenyan national Martha Karua, Eron Kiiza, and Fredrick Mpanga, among others, had sought to have the case file transferred to the High court for a review of the magistrate’s decision to dismiss their application for mandatory bail release.
The application was grounded on the claim that Besigye had been held on remand for over 180 days without trial. Besigye supported his lawyers’ move, telling the court that he had instructed them to prioritise his release and pursue a High court revision.
He lamented the continued abuse he claims to have suffered at the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who has previously charged him with treason on three occasions, and the police, who once allegedly falsified evidence against him in a rape case.
He later asked the court to stay the committal proceedings, indicating that he would appoint a new legal team since the current team was pursuing a High court review. Besigye also requested the Constitutional court to interpret whether he had waived his right to legal representation.
A visibly frustrated Besigye then instructed his supporters to walk out of the courtroom, describing the proceedings as a “kangaroo court.” Unfazed, the magistrate ordered the presentation and reading of the committal papers.
As a result, Besigye, Lutale, and Oola will remain on remand until the High court sets a date for trial. According to the prosecution, between 2023 and November 2024, at various locations including Geneva (Switzerland), Athens (Greece), Nairobi (Kenya), and Kampala (Uganda), the accused allegedly conspired to overthrow the Ugandan government.
The prosecution claims the trio held meetings, solicited funds, and acquired firearms as part of this plot. The group is also accused of failing to report knowledge of the treasonous plans to the appropriate authorities.
The committal documents presented in court allege that Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe, a former senior army officer and founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), used international platforms in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi in 2023 and 2024 to coordinate plans to topple the government.
These meetings allegedly involved foreign operatives, including a Kurdish intelligence agent identified only as “AW,” with whom Besigye reportedly discussed military training, sabotage, and a potential assassination attempt on President Yoweri Museveni via drone strike.
The DPP further alleges that Besigye solicited and received $5,000 from AW to facilitate the transport of 36 Ugandans to Kisumu, Kenya, for paramilitary training. However, the group was reportedly arrested before training commenced and deported to Uganda, where they now face terrorism charges.
The prosecution claims the entire operation was monitored and recorded by AW, who was working in collaboration with Ugandan military intelligence. Besigye is also accused of requesting military-grade weapons—including surface-to-air missiles—alongside counterfeit currency and ricin poison, allegedly targeting military barracks and critical installations across the country.
The state intends to rely on video and audio recordings, social media chats, immigration records, and call logs during the trial. Besigye and Lutale were arrested on November 17, 2024, in Kenya, allegedly in possession of pistols and other items.
Oola, on the other hand, is said to have joined the plot in October 2023 and to have expressed his support for the coup via WhatsApp. The prosecution claims all three acted with common intention and failed to report the treasonous plans.
The intended evidence, as contained in the amended indictment, was read out in court in the absence of the defence team.
Fellow Ugandans, our endless predicament is premised on the fact that we neither have democracy nor rule of law in Uganda. Our nation is under militant rule led by M7, his family, relatives and tribesmen. They’re at liberty to kidnap, charge, detain, torture and kill anyone and/or innocent people without any consequences. Just like parliament, the judiciary is also an extension of the executive. There has never been independency between the 3 branches of govt but only synchronizing their activities. When M7 asks, “kasukali twongeremu?” Parliament acts swiftly to enact oppressive laws. When M7 orders the judiciary to deny innocent Ugandans bail, the likes judges like Christine Nantege gladly oblige.
It’s not only Besigye but all of us are subjected to this autocratic regime for 40 years, and still counting with no end in sight.
Olivia Lutaya and others were detained and tried in the militant court for 4 year until they were forced to plead guilty. These were mostly NUP supports, and over 3000 are still detained with no hope of ever being released! What is Kyagulanyi doing? Urging Ugandans, “get a national ID, go and vote, then leave the rest to Kyagulanyi.” Byona bikwase Kyagulanyi [osirike].
Picking from where you concluded from… Does Kyagulanyi really believe that he can win an election engineered and supervised by the gerentocrat M7 and his son.
If elections were determinant, Besigye would have won previous elections. Kyagulanyi is merely legitimizing the dynastic regime.
Here we go again Kyagulanyi this Kyagulanyi that. How is he going to shoulder all these problems single handed. Remase pse give him a push
Yes he should or admit he has failed. Th9s is the same Kyagulanyi who told us he had more than Besigye to push Museveni out. Let him prove he is better than KB then.
I thought the article was about Dr.Kiiza Besigye. Here is a man facing death in prison , yet some of you are more concerned about what Kyagulanyi “told us” ?!
Again , I must ask : Bwana Remase and Ms Nabona speak for who ? Are you a team ?
Really, is this the right time to probe who between Kyagulanyi and Besigye is better ?
Jes, That’s exactly the is sue. Kyagulanyi is the one who made it and issue. It’s neither Nabona nor I, but Kyagulanyi who blamed Besigye instead M7, for ills of our nation. It’s Kyagulanyi who blamed Besigye for standing against M7 4 times and lost, but Kyagulanyi is not ashamed to stand against M7 after he lost!
Jes, whom are you speaking for? If I may ask.
Jes, this article is not about Besigye as you would like us to believe. It’s about each and everyone of us, because today it’s Besigye tomorrow it’s someone else. How many innocent people have been kidnapped and are rotting in torture basements? One of them is Eddy Mtwe!
It’s you, Jes, who is trying to make it an issue of Kyagulanyi v Besigye, just like Kyagulanyi made the 2021 elections between Besigye v Kyagulanyi rother than Kyagulanyi v M7. Indeed Kyagulanyi won Besigye and he is now the leading opposition figure. So, Nabona is absolutely right, let Kyagulanyi prove that he is better than KB, after all, Kyagulanyi asked us to leave the rest/everything to him. Bwona mu bikwase Kyagulanyi.
Naboma, I couldn’t agree with you more. Kyagulanyi made us believe that Besigye is the problem not M7. Not only that he has failed to push out M7, Kyagulanyi has made matter worse by assuring us that there’s democracy and it works. Now, all hope for change is gone. Now Gen. Muhoozi M7 can easily and boldly say that he’ll behead Kyagulanyi without any reparations. What if it were Kyagulanyi who said that? Muhoozi can kidnap Eddy Mutwe and torture him in his basement, but we go on our business as usual! Olivia Lutaya and others were detained and tried in militant courts until they were forced to plead guilty for crimes they never committed. So many innocent Ugandans are missing, however, it’s business as usual. In other words, where is people power Kyagulanyi is talking about? All Kyagulanyi is interested in is, “next elections,” so that he can pass the go and collect billions of taxpayers money.
Go easy on the guy. He honestly said it loud and clear and explained as follows : “Currently Museveni is the elected president”
He gave this as the basis of his concentration on Kyagulanyi , who deceptively claims that “the one who won is not the president”
Personally , I kind of understood why he ignores everything and anyone else , including the main object of this news report
What I am yet to understand is why Nabona quickly picks up the same trend.
Its Dr.Besigye`s life on line. He could do with lots of undiluted support from those who care . Caltulated diversons have a tendency to obstruct justice against the victim of oppression.
I hope that this is not the case here.
Mea, I’d love to give Kyagualanyi a push, however, Kyagulanyi has made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t need any push. Kyagulanyi claims that, it’s the people who have the power, thus the theme, “people power, our power.” However, just like any deceitful individual, Kyagulanyi contradicts himself by urging Ugandans to get national IDs, go and vote, then leave everything to Kyagulanyi. That clearly shows that Kyagulanyi is motivated by greed. We, the people, must all unite under one objective. That’s to bring a fundamental change to Uganda. Bogus and violent elections, which Kyagulanyi use to claim that there’s democracy, won’t [and never will] bring change to Uganda. Kyagulanyi clearly knows that. So, as the current leading opposition figure, Kyagulanyi must abandon bogus and violent elections and ask the nation to exercise people power.
Certainly, bogus and violent elections have failed to bring change but digging our nation into dipper and dipper ruins. Like I have consistently asked here, what benefit do we, the people, get out of bogus and violent elections?
Mae, please give me only one benefit that we get from bogus and violent elections.
The other day, that sleazebag, Byabakama, said that the voters roll is becoming lower and lower each and every election cycle. That clearly shows that more and more Ugandans don’t trust and believe that bogus and violent election are the answer for change. M7 designed his bogus and violent elections as a business to make money, but most importantly, to divide us along political parties, so that we lose sight of our objective of bringing change. That’s why Kyagulanyi came after Besigye and FDC instead of M7 and NRM.
Jes you have a point. Surely if Col Dr Kizza Besigye Kifefe after failing in so many of his national democratic elections to attempt to unseat M7 democratically and then declared this?”Currently Museveni is the elected president” Why is he haunted down like a miserable fox? President Museveni and his judiciary should be hunting down Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who has not accepted up to now that M7 ever won the 2021 national democratic elections. Kyagulanyi who won and his diehard supporters continue to address him as the honourable President of Uganda. The Kingdom state of Buganda cannot continue to accept such political confusion that is full of widespread speculation in this African country of Uganda! Buganda is not going to continue to participate in rigged and violent national elections of Uganda. The elections are rigged, biased and not up to democratic stardards of international democracy! It is now 40 years and counting that the Uganda Opposition have been voting with a DEMOCRATIC PROTEST VOTE to unseat the current 40 years old brutal dictatorship of Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa without any success!
Bwana Kabakayekka , allow me to correct you.
Its not Dr.Besigye who confirmed Museveni as ” the current elected president of Uganda”. Bwana Remase said it as a preamble , the reason or the basis of why he ignores all the other thieves and only concentrate on Kyagulanyi.
I give it to him ; the man must be exceptionary motivated.
Jes, who is the president of Uganda? I know, you’re just as confused as Kyagulanyi. You call Kyagulanyi the president and you believe that he is the president. That’s ok. Furthermore, simply because I recognize that M7 is the president doesn’t mean that I support or even like him as you seem to suggest.
I am far from confused.
My view is that Mr.Museveni is NOT the elected president. In my life , I have not yet seen a Ugandan elected president. I see only armed rulers .Mr. Museveni is now the current Ruler, fully backed by his tribal army.
For your sake . I will repeat only one more time:
1) I do not believe and will never say that Kyagulanyi is the president ( of Uganda). I only hear other people saying it . mine is to ask why .
2) I don`t know if you support Museveni or not. But when you call him the Currently elected president and then give this as the motive you target only one of his opponents , I get curious.
Can you blame me ?
Bwana Remase , let me now say this: it takes only look at the comment section for one to notice that you have single-handely personalised and owned this Kyagulanyi thing.
My sense ( and probably yours) is that it is no longer comprehensible that you could ever be wrong.
Lets now move forward if we may:
Dr.Besigye is the one in jail facing a capital end. Do you have any opinion on that ?
So far , you have not said anything about his situation or is he also on the list of those you have decided to ignore?
Bwana Kabakayekka , I have said it and I will say it again: Mr.Museveni`s Uganda is a very unique place. He choses who to arrest , who to abduct , who gets his pardon etc.
There was a time when Dr. Besigye was free to travel everywhere and meet with who ever he wanted to meet .( remember the RED CARD launch?)
This was after an assassination attempt on Mr. Kyagulanyi in which his driver was mistakenly shot instead. Needless to mention the brutal beating that was subjected to Mwami Kyagulanyi , a beating that was so severe even army doctors that were deployed to treat him shed tears.
The same questions you ask now were asked then . Only in reverse.
Some people wondered why all this was happening to Kyagulanyi and not Besigye.
My take is that our Ruler is the one who decides the seasons.
HE has decided that Dr.Besigye should stay in jail and probably die there . No one but HIM can change that . It has taken 7 months for His agents to cook the “evidence” . This time round , they have made sure it is more bombastic than the other one of rape .Poison has been added to drones . Wow , just imagine that !
Note: Rwomushana has been named among the plotters who sat with Dr.Besigye to plan the killing by drones and rapid poison.
Please don´t ask me why Rwomushana and Co. have not yet had a/ the lift .
Politics is the business of governing people.
You have to put Besigye in prison, you will eventually release him, so that the population cannot in concert plan on how to oust you.
You have to put people like Remase in place to split people’s attention from your treatment of Besigye to Kyagulanyi in effect stop them from focusing on one or the other.
You have to distract/intimidate/threaten people like Rwomushana(might be your supporter but is too much of a mukiga-too direct/outspoken and sometimes impartially analytical), on notice with lies, “…you see this(knowing full well it is a lie and not actionable)…I can come for you at any time…watch what you say…”
People like Lukwago, Semujju and Salaam Musumba, big headaches- but maybe, easily ruttled and can slip and you pretend to pursue them legally, knowing full well it is a bluff, they will slow down your ouster process and go on the defensive…no offensive no worry( whenever Semujju, Salaam Musumba, Rwomushana, etc go on the defensive then it means they have less time to plan your ouster which is very GOOOOOOD, hallelujah !!!
You have a very sneaky/crafty father(simple tactics that look sophisticated but are not)
Mr. Museveni is the personification of Wakayima(the hare), if you see him that way, you can have a chance but if you see him as ; a freedom fighter, statesman, diplomat, father, Pan-Africanist, military man, religious individual, politician, grand father and “fountain of honour” then you are as finished as a naked virgin in a known sex offenders basement…
Very good Sir !
You really know how to squeeze a stone.
‘….stone age era did not end because there were no more stones to throw….’