UGANDA: Kampala court rejects plea to have Besigye case heard in prison

A magistrate in Kampala Wednesday rejected the State's application to have Ugandan main opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye's treason case heard in Luzira Prison.

Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye surrounded by prison warders at the Nakawa Court where he re-appeared on June 15, 2016 for further mention of his treason charges. PHOTO | ABUBAKER LUBOWA 

On June 1, the State failed to produce Dr Besigye at the Nakawa Magistrate’s Court claiming that his appearance posed a security threat.

The magistrate then extended his remand and adjourned the case to June 15.

At 8.30am (0530 GMT) Wednesday morning, Dr Besigye was brought to court amid tight security. All roads leading to Nakawa Court were also sealed off leading to traffic gridlock in Kampala.

In court, Chief Magistrate James Ereemye overruled State’s request to have the treason case heard from Luzira Prison, ruling that Dr Besigye must always appear in the court where he was arraigned.

He also ordered the police and the Director of Public Prosecution to speed up investigations into the case before adjourning it to June 29.

Dr Besigye, who was the runner-up in the February 18 presidential election, is facing treason charges arising from a video in which he allegedly appeared to swear himself into the office of the President on May 12.

The East African