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Winnie Byanyima, the wife of Dr. Kizza Besigye, has petitioned the High Criminal Division of the High Court, seeking the immediate and unconditional release of her husband and his co-accused, Hajji Obeid Lutaale. In the application filed on Wednesday, Byanyima is seeking orders requiring the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Prisons—the only listed respondents—to produce Besigye and Lutaale before the court.
According to the petition, Besigye and Lutaale were abducted from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, and unlawfully transferred to Uganda, where they were reportedly tortured and detained incommunicado at Makindye Military Barracks. Court records indicate that the two were later arraigned before the General Court Martial and charged with treachery and unlawful possession of firearms.
However, lawyers led by Lukwago & Company Advocates argue that the Supreme Court’s January 31, 2025, decision, which declared the trial of civilians before the General Court Martial unconstitutional, renders their continued detention illegal. Despite this ruling, Besigye and Lutaale remain detained without a valid remand warrant, which, according to their lawyers, violates their right to personal liberty.
Byanyima’s affidavit states that “the above Supreme Court decision and orders notwithstanding, the respondents and their agents have continued to illegally detain the applicants at Luzira Maximum Prison without any lawful excuse or valid remand warrant.” She has attached supporting documents, including a copy of the charge sheet and the Supreme Court ruling, to justify the release of her husband.
Byanyima also describes herself as “a female adult Ugandan of sound mind, Executive Director of UNAIDS, former Member of Parliament representing Mbarara Municipality, and the wife of Besigye.” Proscovia Kunihira, one of the applicants’ lawyers, has also sworn an affidavit supporting the application. She argues that the continued detention of Besigye and Lutaale is a clear violation of their constitutional rights.
“The continued illegal detention of the applicants is further infringement upon their rights to personal liberty, among other rights, under the 1995 Constitution. The ends of justice demand that this application be granted,” Kunihira stated. She further contends that the government and prison authorities, through their agents, are detaining Besigye and Lutaale illegally.
According to court records, Besigye and Lutaale were abducted from Riverside, Nairobi, where they had been invited for a book launch by Kenyan jurist Martha Karua. They were then forcibly transported back to Uganda without due process. Prosecutors allege that between February 2023 and November 2024, Besigye, Lutaale, and Captain Denis Oula held meetings in Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and various locations in Uganda to solicit logistical support and identify military targets with the intent of prejudicing the security of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
This is not the first time Dr. Besigye has faced trial before the General Court Martial. In 2006, he was charged with treason, rape, and concealment of treason—charges that were later dismissed. Since his entry into politics, Besigye has been arraigned before various courts across Uganda on numerous charges, but no conviction has ever been secured against him. He has consistently claimed that the charges against him amount to political persecution rather than genuine prosecution.
Last week, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, ruled that all pending or partially heard cases involving civilians before the General Court Martial must be transferred to civil courts with proper jurisdiction. Following this ruling, the Attorney General informed Parliament on Tuesday that the government is ready to comply and has sought the Chief Justice’s guidance on how the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should facilitate the transfer of files.
However, President Museveni has since expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, stating that Uganda is “not governed by judges but by the people who are adult enough to participate in voting.” Despite this, Article 92 of the Constitution prohibits Parliament from enacting laws that retroactively alter or overturn judicial decisions in cases that have already been decided. Byanyima’s application now awaits a ruling from the High Court, which will determine whether Besigye and Lutaale will be freed or continue to be held in detention.

Winnie Byanyima Petitions High Court for Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Immediate Release, Citing Illegal Detention

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NUP Won’t Budge over Illegal Arrests and Abductions – SG David Lewis Rubongoya

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The National Unity Platform (NUP) is concerned about the ongoing arrest and detention of its supporters in unknown locations beyond the mandatory 48 hours as stipulated in the law.

This has been raised by the Party’s Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, during a press conference held at the NUP headquarters at Makerere-Kavule, Kawempe Division, as two members of the party’s Elections Management Committee who were allegedly abducted on Tuesday and were released yesterday spoke to the press about their ordeal.

These are; Mercy Walukamba, the Committee’s Chairperson and Rahma Juma, a member of the party’s electoral body.

Rubongoya emphasized that the continued detention of NUP supporters without access to legal representation or communication with their families is a clear violation of their human rights and the constitution of Uganda.

Rubongoya says they are to continue engaging courts in the effort to help their supporters get justice but still urged the Government authorities to revise their thinking and unconditionally release the detainees as soon as possible.

He has accused the authorities of using intimidation and harassment to suppress dissenting voices.

Meanwhile, Walukamba has condemned security forces for abducting and torturing them because of supporting NUP before narrating to journalists what happened during their abduction from Mpigi district on Tuesday.

https://hoimapost.co.ug/nup-wont-budge-over-illegal-arrests-and-abductions-sg-david-lewis-rubongoya/
https://hoimapost.co.ug/nup-wont-budge-over-illegal-arrests-and-abductions-sg-david-lewis-rubongoya/ , hoimapost.co.ug

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Besigye Wanted To Kill Museveni – Andrew Mwenda

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Political analyst Andrew Mwenda has accused imprisoned opposition stalwart Dr. Kiiza Besigye of conspiring to murder President Museveni.

Mwenda contends that the alleged actions of Besigye should have warranted a death sentence.

Mwenda made the remarks during a heated exchange with Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda on NBS Television’s political show, The Frontline, regarding Besigye’s continued detention at Luzira Prison.

Besigye has been incarcerated since November of last year after being picked from Kenya while attending the launch of Martha Karua’s book. He would later be presented before the general court martial in Makindye on charges of treachery and illegal possession of ammunition.

It should be noted that shortly after his arrest, audio clips surfaced on social media, allegedly featuring Besigye discussing activities that “threaten” national security and plans to seize power.

However, these recordings have yet to be presented as evidence in court regarding the accusations against Besigye.

During a discussion on the Frontline, Mwenda emphasized that the evidence in the alleged audio recordings is substantial, accusing Besigye and his supporters, particularly Ssemujju, of downplaying this evidence in their calls for Besigye’s release.

 

Mwenda asserted that Besigye had conspired to unlawfully take control of the government by assassinating the President.

He stated that if he were in Museveni’s position, he would use the evidence from the audio recordings as justification for executing Besigye.

“Besigye was plotting to murder Museveni. Museveni is a human being. If I were in Museveni’s shoes, I would not even have that man (Besigye) alive because he doesn’t believe in a process. There’s a process of removing government. He doesn’t believe in that process. So he’s subject to the law which he has violated.” Mwenda said.

He questioned why Ssemujju and Besigye were not addressing the nature of Besigye’s alleged plot.

There had been rumours that the alleged audio recordings included a conversation between Besigye and an unidentified British individual regarding weapons.

 

However, Besigye’s team, including his wife Winnie Byanyima, has since refuted these claims, with others insisting that the audio recordings were manipulated using AI.

https://hoimapost.co.ug/besigye-wanted-to-kill-museveni-andrew-mwenda/
https://hoimapost.co.ug/besigye-wanted-to-kill-museveni-andrew-mwenda/ , hoimapost.co.ug

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4.5 million stolen : NUP Accuses Security Forces of Theft During Raid on Party Offices

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The leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP) has accused security operatives of stealing money from their offices during a search conducted by joint security forces on Wednesday.

 

The security operation targeted the NUP offices in Kamwokya and the party’s headquarters in Kavule. According to police spokesperson Rusoke Kituma, the search was carried out in response to reports of “military drills” allegedly being conducted at the party premises.

Addressing the media at the Kamwokya offices, Doreen Kaijja, the coordinator of the NUP Leadership School, claimed that security personnel not only vandalized office property but also took money found within the premises.

“They took Shs 2 million from the office,” Kaijja stated. “Another Shs 2.5 million was taken from our shop.”

NUP leaders have condemned the operation, describing it as an act of robbery rather than a legitimate security search. They argue that the raid is part of a continued crackdown on opposition activities in the country.

The police have yet to respond to the allegations of theft.

However, security agencies have previously defended similar operations, arguing they are conducted within the bounds of the law to prevent subversive activities.

https://hoimapost.co.ug/4-5-million-stolen-nup-accuses-security-forces-of-theft-during-raid-on-party-offices/
https://hoimapost.co.ug/4-5-million-stolen-nup-accuses-security-forces-of-theft-during-raid-on-party-offices/ , hoimapost.co.ug

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