Besigye, Lutale Reject State-Appointed Lawyers in Treason Trial

The ongoing treason trial involving opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, faced a significant setback when both individuals formally rejected the services of lawyers appointed by the High Court at the state’s expense.

Julius Sserwambala, Sarah Awero, and Sylvia Namawejje, the state-appointed advocates, appeared before the Criminal Division of the High Court to offer their representation. However, they informed the presiding judge that while UPDF Captain Denis Oola had conditionally accepted their assistance, Besigye and Lutale had declined their firm.

Captain Oola clarified that his acceptance was alongside his existing legal team, emphasizing, “For clarity, I only informed the lawyers that they would represent me alongside my personal lawyers.”

Dr. Besigye reiterated his objections, pointing out that the appointed lawyers lacked experience in handling a complex treason case of this magnitude. He urged the court to pause proceedings until a separate ruling on the constitutionality of state-appointed legal representation is delivered by Justice Peter Kinobe’s court later in August.

This development follows sharp criticism from Besigye’s own lawyer, Eron Kiiza, who had strongly advised the state-appointed counsel to reject the brief. Kiiza argued that accepting such appointments would infringe upon the constitutional right of the accused to choose their own legal representatives, stating, “The right to counsel of choice belongs to the accused. It is not the gift of the State.”

The dispute originated from a High Court directive for the Registrar of the Criminal Division to provide Besigye and Lutale with a list of advocates after the prosecution raised concerns about trial delays due to the accused appearing without legal counsel. The court had stipulated that if the accused declined to choose from the list, the Registrar would appoint counsel. Besigye has consistently maintained he has existing legal representation that has been prevented from effectively acting on his behalf.

The matter of legal representation thus remains unresolved as the treason trial, which charges Besigye, Lutale, and Oola with conspiring to overthrow the government, seeks to move forward.