Besigye is jointly charged with Captain Denis Oola, 48, from the armored brigade, and Hajji Obeid Lutale, aged 65. The three individuals are accused of five offenses. The first offense involves charges related to national security under Section 128(1)(f) of the UPDF Act.
Retired Col Dr Kizza Besigye (right) and Obeid Lutaale (left) in the Dock
Dr. Kizza Besigye, a longtime government critic and four-time presidential
candidate, is facing new charges before the General Court Martial. These
charges, which include offenses ranging from treachery to unlawful possession
of firearms, have garnered attention due to the political implications
surrounding Besigye’s activism.
Besigye is jointly charged with Captain Denis Oola, 48, from the armored
brigade, and Hajji Obeid Lutale, aged 65. The three individuals are accused of
five offenses. The first offense involves charges related to national security
under Section 128(1)(f) of the UPDF Act.
The second charge is treachery, as outlined in Section 127(d) of the UPDF
Act. Additionally, Besigye and Lutale are charged with unlawful possession of
firearms and ammunition under Sections 4(1) and 4(2) of the Firearms Act. The prosecution claims that between February 2023 and November 2024, the
three accused individuals held meetings in various international cities,
including Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi, as well as within Uganda, particularly
in Kampala Metropolitan.
These meetings allegedly focused on soliciting logistical support and
identifying military targets in Uganda, with the intent to undermine the
security of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF). The prosecution also
accuses them of withholding critical information that could have prevented
these alleged activities, further compounding the charges.
Regarding the firearms charges, Besigye and Lutale are specifically accused
of possessing two pistols—one a 27KAL No.765, and the other an HB 1015 1953
model, along with eight rounds of ammunition. These items, according to the
prosecution, are typically reserved for use by the UPDF, and their unlawful
possession is considered a violation of military law.
Both Captain Oola and Besigye have denied the charges. Besigye and Lutale
have also expressed their intention to challenge the court's jurisdiction,
arguing that some of the alleged offenses occurred outside Uganda, particularly
in foreign countries. As a result, the General Court Martial entered a plea of
"not guilty" on their behalf and remanded the three accused
individuals until February 3, 2025, for further hearings.
This case is not the first time Captain Oola has appeared before the General
Court Martial. He was previously arraigned in December 2023 with 19 others on
similar charges, including treachery and unlawful possession of firearms. The
prosecution later added 10 more individuals to the case, including UPDF
soldiers, police officers, and civilians, who are accused of forming a rebel
group known as the Uganda Lord's Salvation Army, to overthrow the government.
The alleged offenses in the ongoing case, involving both Besigye and Oola,
date back to 2022 and 2023, with accusations stretching across both Uganda and
abroad. The trial for this case is still pending, and its outcome could have
significant consequences for the accused, as well as broader implications for
political dissent and justice in Uganda.