KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) The legal challenges facing prominent opposition figure Kizza Besigye escalated this week as a military court ruled on Tuesday that he will stand trial for the serious charge of treachery. This ruling adds to the already significant list of charges against him and comes ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for 2026 in Uganda. Treachery is a severe offense in the country, carrying the potential penalty of death for those convicted.
Besigye, 68, who has previously contested Uganda’s presidency four times, was reported missing on November 16 in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Days later, he reemerged alongside his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, appearing before a military court in Kampala, Uganda's capital. Initially, Besigye faced charges of illegal possession of a firearm and a related charge regarding the alleged solicitation of military support from abroad aimed at destabilizing national security. Besigye has denied all accusations and has since been remanded in custody.
The situation took a surprising turn on Monday when a military prosecutor amended the charge sheet to include the treachery charge and introduced a third suspect, who is identified as a serving army officer. This unexpected move led Besigye’s defense attorneys to challenge the amendment, illustrating the contentious and unpredictable nature of the proceedings against him.
Kizza Besigye has long been an influential figure in Ugandan politics, despite facing numerous arrests and assaults throughout his career. Notably, he has never been convicted of a crime, which raises questions about the motivations behind the ongoing legal actions against him. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have labeled his recent abduction as a violation of international human rights law, specifically criticizing the disregard for fair trial protections typically associated with extradition processes.
The trial of Besigye has caught the attention of the Ugandan public, who are anxious about the political landscape as the country approaches the upcoming elections. Current President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, is expected to seek re-election. However, some political analysts speculate that he may consider stepping aside, a move that could lead to an unpredictable political transition given the lack of a clear successor within the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
Besigye’s political career is particularly notable, as he is a qualified physician and a retired colonel from Uganda’s military. He once served as a military assistant and personal doctor to Museveni before their falling out in the 1990s due to Besigye’s criticisms of what he perceives as Museveni’s drift towards authoritarian governance. The contrast in their political ideologies continues to illustrate the divide in Ugandan politics.
Over the years, Museveni has faced intense scrutiny from human rights organizations regarding his government’s treatment of opposition figures. Historical patterns indicate that Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from British colonial rule in 1962, further complicating the nation’s political climate.
