Lawyers representing Dr. Kizza Besigye, Uganda’s four-time presidential candidate, have expressed serious concerns about the reported solitary confinement of their client.
Besigye, along with his aide Hajj Obed Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola, appeared before Nakawa Magistrate’s Court today April 30, 2025, where they were remanded until May 21, 2025, despite multiple bail requests.
The trio faces terrorism-related charges, sparking growing legal and human rights concerns. Prosecution claims that Besigye and his co-accused plotted to overthrow the Ugandan government by force between 2023 and November 2024.
The state alleges that the operation involved coordination across international locations, including Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala.
In court, Besigye’s lead counsel argued that the accused, particularly Besigye and Lutale, are being held in extreme isolation, denied meaningful interaction with other prisoners, even at Luzira Prison.
The lawyer described their detention as more than mere imprisonment, he called it enforced solitude, which he argued borders on psychological torture.
The lawyer emphasized that this treatment violates their constitutional right to the presumption of innocence, as the accused are still awaiting trial.
Frederick Mpanga, another attorney representing Besigye, argued that the conditions imply guilt before due process has occurred.
He further claimed that the accused are being denied access to their families, doctors, and legal counsel at times. Mpanga recounted an incident where one of the accused attempted to consult a physician present in court but was prevented by prison officials.
