Dr. Besigye Calls Off Hunger Strike After Arraignment on Treason Charges
Incarcerated veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has called off his hunger strike following his arraignment before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, February 21, where he was charged with treason. His charges stem from an alleged abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, in November last year.
The four-time presidential contender had initiated the hunger strike over a week prior to protest his continued detention without a remand warrant. This move came after a landmark Supreme Court ruling on January 31, which halted the General Court Martial from trying civilians including Besigye and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale. The Supreme Court ordered an immediate transfer of civilian cases from military courts to regular courts.
However, delays in the government’s implementation of the Supreme Court ruling prompted Dr. Besigye’s protests. Speaking on behalf of Dr. Besigye, his lawyer and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago stated, “Now that Dr. Besigye has been formally arraigned before the magistrate’s court on charges of treason, he has decided to call off the hunger strike since there’s now a valid remand warrant from this honourable court.” He added that Dr. Besigye was protesting against what he deemed illegal incarceration as there had been no pending charges against him until his recent arraignment.
Dr. Besigye, along with his aide Lutale and UPDF Capt. Dennis Oola were charged with treason and face an alternative charge of misprision of treason. The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and November 2024, the trio along with others still at large conspired to overthrow the Ugandan government by force, with locations including Geneva, Athens, Nairobi and Kampala cited in the charges.
In addition to his legal troubles, there are concerns for Dr. Besigye’s health prompting his legal team to proceed with a bail application. “We want the application to be filed today so that the ailing Dr. Besigye can access better medical care outside prison,” Lukwago confirmed.
Previously, Dr. Besigye and Lutale had been arraigned before the General Court Martial where they were charged with treachery and illegal possession of firearms. They declined to take a plea arguing that the military court lacked jurisdiction over civilians. The Supreme Court ruled in their favor leading to the current arraignment in civilian court.
In reaction to the Supreme Court ruling, President Yoweri Museveni and his son who is also the Commander of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, condemned the decision. Gen. Muhoozi has made inflammatory remarks on social media, calling for severe consequences for Dr. Besigye.
Dr. Besigye and Lutale had allegedly been abducted in Nairobi after attending a book launch for opposition leader Martha Karua. They were reportedly driven back to Uganda and detained at Makindye Military Barracks before being later charged.
