Besigye Declines to take Plea

Kampala– The lawyers representing Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale and a UPDF soldier Capt. Denis Olaa Oyar have objected the order from the court to have the accused persons take plea on charges of treason.

Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale in court. (Courtesy photo)
On Tuesday morning, High court judge Emmanuel Baguma instructed the prosecution to make a quick amendment in the indictment to have full details of the charges and particulars of accused persons before they take plea today.
However after the amendment of the indictment, Besigye’s legal team led by Fredrick Mpanga objected to having their clients take plea on grounds that the trial and indictment Act gives them 14 days after an amendment has been done.
Mpanga reasoned that they have to first explain to their clients about the nature of the charges against them before they take plea, and that in doing it quickly may result into a miscarriage of justice.
Yesterday the same court declined to grant Besigye bail on grounds that he had to first take plea over the treason charges against him.
Besigye and his two co-accused persons have been in detention since November last year on charges of treason they allegedly committed in countries of Kenya, Greece and Switzerland between 2023 and November 2024.