Besigye, Hajj Lutale remanded over treason

Dr Kizza Besigye, the former leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and his colleague Hajj Lutale Kamulegeya have been remanded to Luzira prison until December 2 over alleged treason charges committed outside Uganda.

The military court chaired by Brig Freeman Mugabe at Makindye General Court Martial heard that the duo were arrested in Kenya over illegal possession of two pistols and illegal possession of eight rounds of ammunition.

Court further heard that the duo had the illegal guns and ammunition in the months of October and November while they held several meetings in Nairobi (Kenya), Athens (Greece) and Geneva (Switzerland) aimed at soliciting logistical support and identify military targets to compromise the UPDF security.

Prior to being remanded, court proceedings were halted at the Makindye court for 15 minutes after Besigye declined the military court proceedings since the two accused are not serving military officers.

His defense lawyers led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago argued that the charge sheet read by the court was defective since the duo allegedly committed the said offices outside Uganda, the jurisdiction of the UPDF and the army court.

Dr. Kizza Besigye who was abducted by security forces in Nairobi, Kenya over the weekend where he had travelled to attend a book launch of former Kenya’s Justice Minister, Martha Karua was brought to the Makindye military court at 1 pm on Wednesday handcuffed to Hajj Lutale Kamulegeya under tight military security.