The state has lined up evidence it claims will implicate jailed opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, alongside two co-accused, in an alleged elaborate treason plot to assassinate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, acquire ricin poison, circulate counterfeit currency, and destabilise Uganda’s security infrastructure.
According to a summary of evidence compiled by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and seen by this publication, Besigye is charged jointly with Obeid Lutale, his personal assistant, and Captain Denis Oola, a serving officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). The trio face charges of treason and misprision of treason.
Background and allegations
The DPP outlines that Besigye, a former UPDF officer and founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has been a vocal critic of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
He is alleged to have repeatedly expressed intentions to remove the regime by force. His co-accused, Obeid Lutale, is affiliated with the People’s Front for Freedom (FDC-Katonga faction), while Captain Oola, identified as RO/12743, is attached to the UPDF’s Armoured Brigade.
The case pivots on testimonies by Andrew Wilson (AW), a security contractor and firearms expert, who says he was contacted in 2021 by Joel Wakhaima (JW), a Ugandan living in Switzerland, regarding the acquisition of arms and training personnel to overthrow the Ugandan government.
Upon learning of the nature of the request, Wilson informed a senior UPDF officer stationed in Somalia. The officer, in turn, instructed him to become a government informant, and he began reporting to operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
Meetings, recordings, and alleged plans
Wilson’s undercover operation continued until 2023, when he was introduced to Hon. Salaam Musumba, with whom he had a Zoom meeting recorded by CMI. Musumba allegedly requested covert communications training to spy on the government.
Subsequent meetings followed in Brussels, attended by prominent political figures including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, MP Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku and Charles Rwomushana.
During these meetings, Wilson reportedly agreed to join the plot as a military advisor, with all proceedings covertly recorded. Musumba later introduced Wilson to Dr Besigye, leading to a physical meeting in Geneva on October 29, 2023, attended by Besigye, Frank Kihehere Atukunda, and JW.
At this meeting, Besigye allegedly requested military and intelligence support to destabilize Uganda, asked for training of allies in espionage and paramilitary tactics.
He also allegedly suggested introducing counterfeit Ugandan currency into circulation to undermine the economy.
The further claims, Besigye requested ricin poison to eliminate government officials and also reportedly provided a list of military targets, including Simba Barracks (Mbarara), 2nd Division Makenke Barracks, Bugembe Barracks, Bihanga Military School and Kakyoma Mountain Brigade.
The group allegedly organised for 36 FDC supporters to be trained in Kisumu, Kenya, with $5,000 provided for logistics. However, Kenyan authorities arrested and deported the group, who were later charged in Nakawa Magistrate’s court.
Drone assassination plot & further evidence
Prosecutors say that during another meeting in Geneva on January 24, 2024, Besigye reiterated his commitment and allegedly requested Wilson to plan a drone attack on President Museveni.
Besigye reportedly offered intelligence on Museveni’s movements and security, access for Kurdish contacts to use Uganda’s banking system for money laundering, use of Ugandan airfields for illicit trafficking Uganda as a safe haven for fugitives.
In a June 14, 2024 meeting in Geneva, Besigye allegedly reiterated the request for counterfeit currency, drones and grenades, code-named “pineapples”. He also requested training in espionage, surveillance, and drone warfare. Besigye is also said to have shared coordinates for a DRC airstrip (MSC – Aerodrome De Managi) intended for arms drops: Coordinates: 2°17’35″N 32°1’34″E Length: 1,900 meters Altitude: 5,266 feet.
Wilson later travelled to Kisumu in July 2024 to conduct the training, but the recruits were already detained by Kenyan security. Besigye and Wilson reportedly met again in Athens on September 29, 2024, where Besigye requested surface-to-air missiles to attack the Nakasongola Airbase and destroy military aircraft.
If a man in a neighborhood beats his wife, doesn’t he want his fellow men to beat their wives ?
If the executive of a government has lost the respect and trust of its citizens, would it want the Parliament and the Judiciary to retain the respect and trust of the citizens ?
Don’t you think turning Parliament into a den of 🤡 clowns is intentional, look at the majority ?
Don’t you think turning the Judiciary of Uganda into a soap opera with all those highly educated people is intentional ?
Dont you think our waning respect and adoration of lawyers and judges is orchestrated to weaken the Judiciary ? (“…those judges and lawyers are no different from the clowns in Parliament and the corrupt executive…”)
May I ask, to what end is all of this being done ?
If it is to benefit NRM, I would highly doubt it (short term thinking), would a group of people who have acquired a massive amount of wealth stoke the fires of chaos through weakening institutions ?
Then how, in their vulnerable years/ old age, would they protect their wealth without institutions?
If you had all that evidence against the headache Besigye M.D, why did you play around with it from the start ?
Wouldn’t it have been better to give him a speedy trial ( that is up to standard ) then justifiably go after Bobi Wine ?
Don’t you think that if Besigye beats the executive, it will further negatively affect cases against him and Bobi wine ?
Don’t you think, if Besigye is clean, that it will affect the executive’s image in the forth coming polls ?
I am just asking questions because I also do not know.
There is no need for next useless fake presidential election as Rwandese Museveni has already won; Ugandans in post are ensuring no opposition to him & POWERLESS tribally divided ruled Ugandans have no Common Goal, no Common Leader!
Why will 40 years of Museveni not be long enough & Ugandans will ensure his 45 years with next fake presidential election, then bolster him with useless parliamentary, local elections?
Only NO to the tribalistic system & UNITY will block & stop Museveni from torturing Dr Besigye, Bobi Wine or any opposer to his ownership of Uganda!
This is really interesting given that Besigye is a well trained soldier and presumably has very many connections across the globe and for all this long has not planned such a feat. How could he have so naively fallen into a trap by an unknown Joel just like that?
Then other side of it is the age of Artificial intelligence where anyone can produce legitimate looking material and you could be hard pressed to believe otherwise; AI can even produce one’s very voice, but on a fake. Am not dismissing any evidence, but simply thinking loud.
Then this Wilson guy … on what interest does he offer services and then suddenly becomes and informer of an insignificant African country called Uganda? Again, judging by how these guys tend to behave, and the probable stakes and possibly negotiated positions and cash exchanges, Wilson would effectively have fallen on his own sword. Would he risk this for Uganda?
Anyway, whatever it is, IF indeed true, then am really baffled how Besigye could have so naively fallen for these cheap schemes and in fact easily forgotten how things can quickly get bloody and the aftermath of it where it to be successful.