Retired Colonel Dr. Kizza Besigye and his colleague, Hajj Obed Lutale have been remanded to Luzira Prison till December 2, 2024 on charges of illegal possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition.

Dr. Besigye was reported missing on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from the affluent Westlands suburb of Nairobi, Kenya which sparked widespread concern among supporters and members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party Katonga group.

However, on Wednesday morning Dr. Besigye was unexpectedly reported to be detained in Uganda and by midmorning he was arraigned before the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) General Court-Martial at Makindye, Kampala together with Haji Lutale.

The moment he was presented in the dock, Dr. Besigye challenged the jurisdiction of the military court, arguing that, as a retired officer, he is not subject to military law. 

The Court-Martial Chairperson, Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe was forced to adjourn the matter for 15 minutes at around 1pm to determine whether to proceed with reading the charges against Dr. Besigye in the absence of his lawyer.

At the time of adjournment, the state had not yet disclosed the charges against Besigye, who is a four-time former presidential candidate.

On return, the court read the charges in presence of his lawyer the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago but was not given a chance for defence and he was remanded to Luzira prison until December 2nd 2024.

Reports indicate that he was apprehended over the weekend in Nairobi, Kenya, where he had traveled to attend the launch of a book authored by Martha Karua.  

By Our Reporter

20 Nov 2024

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