Besigye Drags Muhoozi to High Court Over Alleged Death Threats

Dr. Kizza Besigye, a prominent opposition figure, along with Hajji Obeid Lutale, has initiated legal action in the High Court, seeking to halt the treason and misprision of treason charges against them. The duo asserts that their constitutional rights have been severely violated through alleged unlawful abduction, torture, and inflammatory public statements made by key military officials.

The application names Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces, and UPDF officers Col. Peter Ahimbisibwe and Lt. Col. Ephraim Byaruhanga as respondents, alongside the Attorney General. Their legal team argues that the circumstances of their arrest and subsequent detention have fundamentally compromised their right to a fair trial.

Central to their case are allegations that they were forcibly abducted from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, by Ugandan military personnel. They further claim to have been held incommunicado at Makindye military barracks for four days without access to legal counsel, family, or medical attention, before being presented to the General Court Martial, violating protections against arbitrary detention and torture.

A significant aspect of the lawsuit focuses on alleged social media posts attributed to Gen. Muhoozi. These statements, purportedly made between January 2025 and April 2026, include explicit threats to “hang KB on Heroes’ Day,” referring to Besigye, and suggesting his death or execution by next month or shooting. The applicants argue these remarks constitute public prejudgment of guilt, threats of extrajudicial punishment, psychological torture, and interference with judicial independence.

Their lawyers contend that these statements undermine the presumption of innocence and place undue pressure on the court. The application also highlights significant delays in the prosecution’s disclosure of evidence, impeding the commencement of the trial. The applicants are seeking the nullification of criminal proceedings, their unconditional release, and damages for alleged torture-related trauma.

Meanwhile, separate High Court proceedings regarding the treason trial have seen disputes over the appointment of assessors and court access protocols. Justice Emmanuel Baguma has directed parties to agree on preliminary issues before the trial proceeds, with the prosecution ordered to present its first witness on June 11, 2026.

https://observer.ug/news/besigye-sues-muhoozi-over-threats-to-hang-him-on-heroes-day