A Ugandan military court has charged opposition leader Kizza Besigye with treachery, a crime punishable by death. The charges come amid growing legal challenges Besigye faces after his controversial detention in Kenya last year.
Besigye, a staunch critic of President Yoweri Museveni, is accused of plotting to undermine Uganda’s national security—a claim his supporters and human rights groups call politically motivated, especially as the 2026 elections approach.
Besigye, a former military doctor under Museveni, has been a prominent figure in Uganda’s opposition for decades, unsuccessfully running for president four times. His accusations that Museveni is turning authoritarian have made him one of the president’s fiercest critics.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of transnational repression in East Africa, where opposition figures often face abductions and deportations. Amnesty International condemned Besigye’s treatment as a violation of human rights, calling his detention a “chilling message to dissenters.”
On November 16, Besigye disappeared in Nairobi, Kenya, while attending a book launch for opposition politician Martha Karua. He reappeared in Uganda days later, where he was charged with illegal firearm possession and attempting to solicit military support from foreign sources.
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Though the Kenyan government denied involvement in his abduction, Uganda maintains that the operation was coordinated with Kenyan authorities, leading to backlash in both countries.
The military prosecutor claims that Besigye withheld intelligence on a plot to destabilize Uganda and attempted to procure weapons from Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi.
While Uganda’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2006 that military courts cannot try civilians, this decision has been ignored in Besigye’s case. His defense team argues that the military court lacks jurisdiction.
Amnesty International views the charges as part of a broader effort to suppress opposition voices. Besigye’s detention has been extended several times, and his legal team, led by Karua, faces significant obstacles, including the recent arrest of Ugandan lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for alleged contempt of court.
Besigye’s trial is set to resume on January 22, with the military court expected to rule on his defense’s objections, including jurisdiction. Human rights groups have called for his immediate release, citing violations of due process and international law.
This article includes reporting from multiple news agencies.