Kizza Besigye Collapses in Court During Treason Trial Protest

High Court proceedings in the treason case against opposition stalwart Kizza Besigye were dramatically halted on Wednesday when the politician collapsed in the dock. Besigye had been engaged in a vocal protest for over ten minutes, asserting that the trial could not proceed without his consent to the state-appointed lawyers.

The veteran politician argued that his constitutional right to choose his own legal representation had been violated, especially after his initial legal team withdrew due to concerns for their safety and alleged intimidation.

Despite Besigye’s objections, Justice Emmanuel Baguma ruled that the accused had been given adequate time to consult with the state’s lawyers. The judge indicated the trial would continue while awaiting any potential directives from a pending application challenging the legal representation.

Proceedings were conducted with restricted media access. While Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale maintained they were still considering a large list of potential lawyers, co-accused Capt. Denis Oola accepted the state-appointed legal team.

Shortly after the prosecution presented its first witness, Andy Wilson Orlando, a British-American national, Besigye collapsed, stunning the courtroom. Attempts by his personal doctors to provide aid were initially blocked by prison officers, leading to a brief standoff.

Two ambulances arrived at the scene, and Besigye was subsequently taken away for medical attention. The trial is expected to resume once his condition is updated.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/359990/dr-besigye-collapses-in-court-after-defiant-protest