Uganda court denies bail to opposition leader Kizza Besigye in treason case

Case has raised concerns among authorities critics astir a crackdown up of Uganda’s nationalist predetermination aboriginal adjacent year.

A Ugandan justice has refused to assistance bail to seasoned absorption fig Kizza Besigye, who has been successful jailhouse for astir 9 months connected treason charges.

Judge Emmanuel Baguma said connected Friday that the 180-day maximum play earlier mandatory bail is granted lone began erstwhile helium was remanded successful the civilian tribunal connected February 21, which means helium falls abbreviated by 12 days to conscionable the requirements to unafraid bail.

His lawyers argued helium should beryllium automatically released connected bail due to the fact that helium has spent much than 180 days successful jailhouse without his proceedings starting.

The lawsuit has raised concerns among authorities critics, including absorption person Bobi Wine and rights groups, astir a crackdown up of Uganda’s nationalist predetermination aboriginal adjacent twelvemonth successful which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election.

The authorities denies targeting absorption figures and says each those who person been detained person committed crimes.

Four elections lost

A erstwhile state and idiosyncratic doc of Museveni, Besigye has stood against the incumbent person successful 4 elections.

He mislaid each the elections but rejected the results and alleged fraud and elector intimidation. Besigye has not said whether helium is moving again.

Besigye has been arrested galore times implicit the years, including successful 2022 on charges of inciting violence.

Besigye, who denies immoderate wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya successful November past year, and initially charged successful a subject tribunal, earlier his lawsuit was transferred to a civilian court.