Besigye charged with treason in Civilian Court
KAMPALA. Veteran Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been formally charged with treason in a civilian court following the transfer of his case from a military tribunal. Treason, a capital offense in Uganda, carries the possibility of a death sentence if convicted. The 68-year-old politician, who has contested the presidency four times against long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni, was charged alongside two others, though no pleas were entered as the defendants argued the charges required a higher court. Besigye’s legal troubles began in November when he was reportedly abducted in Kenya and returned to Uganda to face a military trial. However, a recent Supreme Court ruling deemed the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional, prompting the transfer of his case. This decision drew criticism from President Museveni, who labeled it “a wrong decision.” During his detention, Besigye initiated a hunger […]
