Wayne Lumbasi
Uganda’s High Court has denied veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye bail for the fourth time, keeping him in detention as his long-running treason case edges closer to trial. The ruling was delivered in Kampala, dealing another setback to Besigye and his co-accused, activist Obeid Lutale, who have been seeking temporary release as they await the hearing of the case.
In his decision, the presiding judge held that granting bail at this stage would be premature, noting that the case had not yet progressed to plea-taking. The court ruled that criminal proceedings should not be stayed before the accused formally enter their pleas, arguing that doing so would undermine the orderly conduct of the trial. As a result, the judge ordered that plea-taking should proceed, effectively clearing the way for the case to move into its substantive phase.
Besigye’s legal team strongly objected to the ruling, describing it as unfair and procedurally troubling. Defence lawyers argued that the repeated denial of bail, despite the prolonged period Besigye has spent on remand, violates his constitutional rights. They also expressed concern that the court’s insistence on plea-taking before considering bail leaves the accused with little room to challenge continued detention.
Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and one of President Yoweri Museveni’s most prominent critics, is charged with treason and misprision of treason, offences that carry severe penalties under Ugandan law. He has been in custody since his arrest in late 2024, and his case has attracted widespread attention from opposition figures, civil society organizations, and international observers, many of whom view the proceedings as politically sensitive.
Rights groups and opposition leaders have repeatedly criticised the continued denial of bail, arguing that the case reflects a broader pattern of using the justice system to pressure government critics. The state, however, maintains that the charges are serious and that the courts are acting within the law. With plea-taking now ordered, attention is expected to shift to how quickly the prosecution moves to present its case and whether the defence will renew its bid for bail as the trial progresses.
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