Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale are set to begin trial on July 13, 2026, following a High Court decision dismissing their application seeking to block the treason proceedings against them.
The High Court Criminal Division in Kampala threw out Dr Besigye’s application after finding it lacked merit and was intended to delay the case.
In a ruling delivered electronically, Justice Emmanuel Baguma said the request by the two accused persons was incompetent and an abuse of court process.
Besigye and Lutale had asked court to cancel the treason charges, arguing that their constitutional right to a fair trial had been violated.
They also sought unconditional release and asked government to facilitate their treatment and rehabilitation.
They claimed they were unlawfully brought back from Kenya by Ugandan security operatives and detained without access to lawyers or medical care.
They also alleged they were held beyond the legal time limit and in an ungazetted military facility.
However, the government denied the allegations, saying the accused were lawfully handled and given access to legal representation and medical services.
Justice Baguma agreed with the state and ruled that the accused failed to provide credible evidence to support their claims.
He said the arguments presented were based on speculation rather than proof.
The judge also noted that the accused did not raise complaints about human rights violations at earlier stages of the case and only brought them up after the court directed the prosecution to start presenting witnesses.
He said this showed the application was an afterthought aimed at delaying the trial.
The court further explained that even where rights violations are alleged, the law provides other legal remedies instead of stopping criminal proceedings.
Justice Baguma then ordered that the trial should proceed as scheduled without further delay and directed that the accused be produced in court.
Besigye and Lutale remain on remand and are jointly charged with UPDF Captain Denis Oola for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
Prosecutors claim the accused held meetings in different countries to solicit funds, acquire weapons and organise activities aimed at destabilising the government.
The state says it has evidence, including recordings, messages and travel documents, to support the charges.
