A Ugandan judge recently refused to grant bail to opposition figure Kizza Besigye, continuing his incarceration on treason charges. The decision was premised on the interpretation of Besigye’s detention period, which the High Court’s Justice Emmanuel Baguma determined commenced from February 21, 2025—coinciding with the date Besigye and businessman Obeid Lutale were officially charged.
This ruling clashes with the claims from Besigye’s defense team, who argue that the remand period began on November 20, 2024, when they allege their detention began under the General Court Martial. The defense cites Article 23(6)(c) of the Ugandan Constitution, asserting that release on bail should be granted after 180 days of remand without High Court commitment. Martha Karua, a member of the defense team, criticized the ruling for potentially setting a detrimental legal precedent.
Reacting to the decision, defense spokesperson Erias Lukwago emphasized the legal merits in favor of Besigye’s release. He urged the judiciary to uphold constitutional guarantees rather than contributing to what he described as judicial overreach.
Besigye’s prolonged detention has drawn international criticism, particularly following a joint statement from Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. The statement demanded the release of Besigye and others whom they regard as unlawfully detained. This advocacy was amplified after the Ugandan Supreme Court declared the trial of civilians by military courts unconstitutional—a decision that became controversial when Besigye was transferred from military to civilian jurisdiction without release.
Moreover, in an action criticized by rights groups, President Yoweri Museveni recently reauthorized military tribunals for civilians, a move perceived as an attempt to suppress opposition in anticipation of the 2026 general elections. Reactions from various sectors suggest that these developments are seen as a maneuver to hinder political dissent and maintain the current administration’s grip on power.
With tensions rising in Uganda’s political landscape, the international community continues to advocate for the respect of constitutional rights and the presumption of innocence, principles that are now under heightened scrutiny as this legal saga unfolds.