A High Court judge in Uganda has thrown out an attempt to halt the treason trial of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, clearing the way for a highly controversial criminal prosecution.

Besigye, a prominent physician and leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, is facing joint charges of treason and misprision of treason alongside Hajji Obeid Lutale and UPDF Captain Denis Oola. Justice Emmanuel Baguma flatly rejected the defense’s claims of human rights violations and unlawful abductions, calling the petition a “shallow abuse of the court process” meant to delay the case. He ruled that alleged rights abuses do not automatically mean criminal prosecutions have to stop.

The decision has sparked serious concerns among legal experts. Speaking on the development, Ugandan constitutional lawyer Jude Byamukama warned that the proceedings are rapidly turning into a “mistrial,” especially since heavy state intimidation has forced Besigye’s original legal team to step down. In a highly unusual twist, Justice Baguma ordered the state to appoint new defense lawyers for Besigye, completely against his wishes.

“A charge of treason by its very nature is about the interests of the state against an accused person. And then to have the same state being the one to now get counsel, we have a situation where a trial judge is directing that lawyers be imposed on Besigye and his co-accused without their consent. Obviously, what we are witnessing is mistrial,” said Byamukama.

Byamukama also warned that this decision unravels over 20 years of constitutional progress in Uganda by basically giving the state a free pass to violate a citizen’s due process rights without it affecting their trial. The defense team has already confirmed plans to fight the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court.

–ChannelAfrica–