State Withdraws Witness Protection Bid in Besigye Treason Case to Expedite Justice

In a significant development for the high-profile treason case involving veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, the State has withdrawn its contentious application for witness protection. The decision, granted by High Court judge Emmanuel Baguma, aims to unblock the trial and prevent further indefinite delays.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had initially sought to shield the identities of six key prosecution witnesses, citing threats related to the case’s prominence. However, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka informed the court that the prolonged back-and-forth over the application, including extensive cross-examination, had significantly hampered progress.

“This application has been coming up for further cross-examination… we have realized that this application is delaying the commencement of the actual hearing of the substantive case,” Mr. Birivumbuka stated, emphasizing that alternative safety measures would be sought.

He argued that any further delay would be “contrary to the wider interest of expeditious justice.” The unconditional withdrawal permits the immediate disclosure of witness statements, paving the way for the main trial.

The defense team, led by Senior Counsel Martha Karua, expressed surprise and initially protested the State’s sudden change of stance, characterizing it as an “ambush.” While not objecting to the withdrawal itself, the defense urged the court to dismiss the application “with prejudice” to prevent its revival later, and also sought compensation for resources expended.

Justice Baguma, however, rejected the demands for prejudice and compensation, deeming the fears “premature” and stating that the judiciary cannot rule on hypothetical future motions. He also ruled that the legal proceedings, including the cross-examination, were conducted in good faith and that the interest of justice outweighed the issue of costs.

With this procedural hurdle cleared, the court is scheduled to proceed with preliminary hearings and the selection of court assessors on June 1, marking a crucial step towards addressing the substantive treason charges against Dr. Besigye and his co-accused.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)