Lawyers representing retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and Abeid Lutaale protested delays in being allowed into the General Court Martial, where their clients are facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms.
The legal team, comprising Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua as lead counsel, Samuel Muyizi Mulindwa, Eron Kiiza, and Nalukoola Luyimbazi, was kept waiting for over four hours at the court’s entrance.
Soldiers manning the court entrance, many without name tags, intermittently interacted with the lawyers, offering assurances but repeatedly leaving them outside.
At one point, the soldiers announced that only four lawyers would be permitted inside, prompting Karua and Lukwago to reject the restriction, insisting all lawyers on the defense team be admitted.
Karua was eventually allowed entry, but Besigye’s supporters prevented her from proceeding, arguing that she, as a “bishop,” should enter last.
Complications arose when her assistant, who traveled with her from Kenya, was denied entry, leading to further protests from the lawyers.
Lukwago submitted a list of 35 lawyers contracted to defend Besigye and Lutaale, but some lawyers already inside were reportedly unaccounted for.
The legal team also clashed with the soldiers over being barred from bringing their phones into court, which they argued were essential for accessing legal documents online.
The standoff escalated when soldiers returned from consultations with inconsistent rulings on phone use.
Tired of waiting and frustrated by the lack of progress, the lawyers retreated to a tree nearby, vowing to wait there until called.
Meanwhile, outside the court, Besigye’s supporters engaged in a fitness challenge, drawing attention from both the public and armed soldiers.
The supporters expressed anger over the protracted process and called for Besigye’s trial in civilian courts, dismissing the military court as a “kangaroo court.”
Inside the courtroom, the session, chaired by Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe, addressed other cases while Besigye’s case was delayed due to the absence of his lead lawyers.
Besigye, clad in a pink shirt and navy-blue sweater, and Lutaale were briefly presented before being returned to their cells.
Tensions flared as supporters attempted to free Besigye during his transfer, leading to a scuffle with the army and the subsequent closure of the court gates.
The session, initially scheduled as a mention, marked another chapter in Besigye’s legal battles.
Dr. Besigye, previously arraigned before the Court Martial in 2006 on charges of treason and rape—later dismissed—has consistently decried his trials as acts of political persecution.
Since his presidential bid, he has faced numerous charges across various courts without any convictions.
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