KAMPALA – The High Court has fixed June 11, 2026, as the commencement date for the high-stakes treason trial of veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale, and UPDF Captain Denish Oyaa Oola.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The trial date was set on Monday, June 1, 2026, by Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division, who simultaneously dismissed a defence application to refer the court’s trial management directions to the Constitutional Court for interpretation.
Justice Baguma ruled that the issues raised by the defence did not constitute substantial constitutional questions requiring any interpretation by a higher court.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, and his co-accused face treason and misprision of treason charges alongside Captain Denish Oyaa Oola of the UPDF Armoured Brigade, with a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.
The defence team, led by lawyer Earnest Kalibbala, had challenged the court’s directions, arguing that the timelines set by the court could undermine the accused persons’ right to a fair hearing.
Specifically, the defence asked the court to determine whether the seven-day period between full disclosure of evidence (June 1) and the scheduled preliminary hearing (June 8) is adequate under Article 28(3)(c) of the Constitution.
They also questioned whether requiring lawyers to access their clients during weekends and public holidays infringes on fair hearing guarantees, and whether fixing a trial date before the conclusion of the preliminary hearing violates constitutional rights.
The judge observed that the latest disclosure on June 1 only revealed six previously concealed witnesses, while earlier disclosures had been made on January 21, March 4, and March 11, 2026.
From the court record, the judge noted that the defence already possessed all necessary facts and documents, ruling that one week between full disclosure and the preliminary hearing was sufficient preparation time.
The court also directed its Deputy Registrar to formally communicate with Luzira Prison authorities to facilitate weekend and public holiday access to the accused, safeguarding their right to a fair trial.
Dr. Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya were arrested on November 16, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, where they had gone to attend a book launch by Kenyan politician Martha Karua.
The pair face multiple charges including unlawful possession of firearms, soliciting military support abroad, identifying military targets in Uganda, and treason.
The two denied the alleged offences involving meetings in Kenya, Switzerland, Greece, and Uganda from 2023 to 2024, and have since been on remand at Luzira Prison after their case was moved from a military to a civilian court.
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