Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has joined a section of lawyers, politicians and activists to condemn the trial of longtime Uganda’s opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye in the military court.
Besigye alongside Hajji Obeid Lutale were last month arrested by security in the neighboring Kenya and arraigned in the General Court Martial in Kampala where he was slapped with charges related to subversion through use of arms. Ever since, lawyers and politicians have come out to criticize the Ugandan authorities for trying Besigye and his alleged accomplice in military courts saying the army court lack the jurisdiction to try civilians.
The latest is Bobi Wine who not only says the practice of trying Besigye and other opponents of the regime in Kampala is unconstitutional, it’s officers lack the required credentials to hold judicial roles, and the army court only serves as a walking stick of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
From a post he shared on his socials, the politician states this;
“I join all citizens of good will to once again condemn the trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his colleague Obed Lutale in the military court.
The criminal regime continues to persecute its opponents in these kangaroo courts despite two Constitutional Court rulings barring the trial of civilians by the military. Mr. Museveni takes great delight in military courts because they are under his direct command and control. Those who chair them are not even required to be lawyers at the bare minimum. He chooses when they should remand, prosecute, deny or grant bail.
In the period leading to and after the 2021 election, over 2000 NUP supporters who were abducted went through these ‘courts’ across the country. The comrades were charged before the General Court Martial, Division Courts Martial and Unit Disciplinary Committees. Although most of them were released after Mr. Museveni had successfully rigged the election and swore himself in, we still have many stuck in different prisons, being tried by the military.
It is the greatest travesty of justice that Mr. Owiny Dollo has refused to have the Supreme Court deliver judgment to put a final end to this grave injustice! We must all raise voices against this injustice which every Ugandan is a potential victim of!”
