Besigye's Lawyers Allege Denied Access to Accused Ahead of Treason Trial

The commencement of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s treason trial faces new uncertainty as his legal team reports significant obstacles in preparing his defence. Lawyers for Dr. Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, have stated they have not received confirmation of court-ordered arrangements for consultations at Luzira Prison.

This complaint follows the High Court’s recent dismissal of a bid by the accused to have the Constitutional Court interpret whether they were afforded adequate time and facilities for trial preparation. In a letter dated June 5, M/s Lukwago & Co Advocates highlighted that Justice Emmanuel Baguma had directed prison authorities to permit weekend and holiday access for consultations during weekends and public holidays, alongside suitable conditions. However, these directives appear to remain unimplemented.

The defense noted that a co-counsel was denied entry to Luzira Prison with essential preparation tools, including a laptop and flash drives, on June 4. This incident suggests a failure in communication or a refusal by prison authorities to grant the requested permissions.

Allegations of treason, one of Uganda’s gravest criminal offenses, necessitate comprehensive preparation, which the defense claims is being hampered by these restrictions. Their requests to the court include a private interview room for extensive consultations, free from state officials, and unrestricted access to the prison facility between 8 am and 6 pm daily.

Furthermore, the legal team seeks permission to bring in laptops, mobile phones, and other case materials, in addition to a stable internet connection and access for an IT expert and a forensic examiner. The prosecution alleges that Dr. Besigye, Mr. Lutale, and Denis Oola were involved in meetings from 2023 to 2024 aimed at overthrowing the government.

Despite previous rulings by Justice Baguma against referring constitutional questions to the Constitutional Court, the defense insists that essential consultation arrangements are lacking. This non-compliance raises serious questions about whether the defense can adequately prepare, and if these unresolved issues will lead to further delays in the long-awaited trial.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/besigye-lawyers-demand-prison-access-5488522