Sawt Falasteen - Uganda opposition leader treason trial starts without lawyers

Uganda has seen mounting political repression in recent months, with the army arresting opposition figures, lawyers and shutting down a major media group.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, has taken a backseat since winning a seventh election in January, allowing his son and head of the army, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to exert increasing control.

Besigye, who ran multiple times for the presidency against Museveni, was kidnapped in Kenya in late 2024 and smuggled back to face treason charges, which he says are politically motivated.

His main lawyer, Erias Lukwago, is in jail after being seized by the army last month.

Besigye's other lead lawyer, Kenya's Martha Karua, was barred from entering the country when she flew in to represent him last month.

"We know this trial won't be fair. Our rights have been abused and laws are not followed. We no longer wish to be part of it," Besigye told the court.

The judge said Besigye would be able to choose from a list of state lawyers and if he failed to do so, they would be selected for him.

"The absence of our lawyers was occasioned by the state itself, not by ourselves," said Besigye. "It is the state that has progressively abused the process."

Besigye initially faced a court martial but the case was later moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts.

The civilian trial was set to start in September 2025 but there were long delays because the state only presented evidence in June.

Besigye has also argued he is being illegally denied bail and medical treatment.

In a speech on July 4, President Museveni said: "The arrested opposition law-breakers may not get bail because they threaten the security of the witnesses."

"It is this undemocratic culture of some of the opposition elements that has been provoking the security forces to fill these gaps," he added.

Besigye's trial is due to resume on Wednesday.

F.AbuZaid--SF-PST