By KT Reporter
Opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has written to High Court Criminal Division Judge, Emmanuel Baguma expressing frustration and concern over what he describes as the unjust denial of his right to personally address the court during the commencement of his treason trial earlier this week.
In the letter dated October 2, 2025, and written from Luzira Upper Prison where he is on remand, Besigye accuses Justice Baguma of acting oppressively by refusing to let him raise a matter of concern in open court, insisting instead that all issues be communicated through his legal team.
During the court session on October 1st, Besigye attempted to speak directly to the judge shortly after his lawyers and those from the state had introduced themselves. The matter was coming up for plea taking, but before any further step could be taken, Besigye stood up and said, “Good morning My Lord. I wish to raise a matter of concern before we proceed with this business.”
Besigye was however immediately interrupted by Justice Baguma, who questioned whether he had withdrawn instructions from his legal team led by Kenyan politician and lawyer Martha Karua and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Karua quickly responded, pointing out that there is no law barring an accused person from speaking in court simply because they are represented by counsel. Besigye clarified that he had only temporarily withdrawn his instructions so he could personally raise a matter, after which his lawyers could proceed with representing him.
Still, the Judge insisted that proper procedure must be followed, including formal withdrawal of representation in writing.
Despite Besigye pleading with the court to allow him to briefly state his concern, he was again cut off mid-sentence when he began explaining that his issue related to “our presence here.
Justice Baguma instructed that he would only accept the concern in writing and that it should be submitted through his lawyers by Friday, October 3rd. He promised to give a response on October 8th.
In his letter now, Besigye questions why, as a person facing a grave charge, he cannot be allowed to speak directly to the court during a public hearing. He argues that if every concern must be submitted in writing and given a date for response, his case risks dragging indefinitely while he remains confined in prison.
He also challenges the Judge to cite the specific law that bars an accused from addressing the court orally in the presence of their lawyers.
Besigye says he instructed his legal team to seek that legal clarification on his behalf, but no such law has been cited so far.
“Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison. Be that as it may, prior to raising my concerns in writing, I request you to point me to the provisions of the law that bar an accused person from orally raising concerns touching their trial, during any audience with the judge in the presence of their lawyers” , read Besigye’s letter in Part.
Following the ruling, one of Besigye’s lawyers, Ernest Kalibbala, told the court that while they do indeed represent him, the accused retains full authority over which matters they want to raise personally. He noted that appointing lawyers does not take away the voice of the client and that there is no law prohibiting an accused person from speaking in their own trial.
What followed in court and its surroundings was outrage from Besigye’s supporters and relatives.
Supporters of Besigye, many of whom had filled the courtroom, burst into chants of protest songs, while others cried and shouted at the judge, questioning why Besigye was being silenced. The situation quickly escalated, with security officers stepping in to restore order.
Judicial work in nearby courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, came to a standstill as staff abandoned their offices to observe the supporters who were angry and singing songs demanding for Besigye’s freedom
Besigye was quickly taken back into custody through an underground route and was briefly held in court cells before being whisked away by operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce.
Sources within the Uganda Prisons Service, though not officially authorized to speak, told URN that Besigye had reportedly refused to leave his cell for court and was forced out by security. URN was not able to independently verify this claim by press time.
Earlier that day in the morning, tensions had already been rising as supporters led by Kiira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and FDC’s Salaam Musumba began protesting delays in court proceedings.
By 11:00am on Wednesday, the courtroom had yet to open, despite earlier communication that the session would begin at 9:00am.
By the time the Judge came in Court at 11:33 am, same time when Besigye arrived, the mood was already tense.
The mood was also worsened by the mistrust of Justice Baguma, whom Besigye’s supporters accuse of bias after he previously denied the opposition leader bail and also refused to recuse himself from the case when requested.
Besigye himself had previously declined to appear before Justice Baguma because of his decision denying him temporary freedom.
Besigye is jointly charged with his aide Obeid Lutaale and UPDF ‘s Captain Denis Oola on treason charges. The prosecution alleges that the trio held meetings in cities such as Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala to solicit funds, acquire firearms, and plan military operations intended to overthrow the Ugandan government.
According to the state, Besigye met with a Kurdish intelligence agent identified only as “AW” and received $5,000 to facilitate the transportation of 36 Ugandan recruits to Kisumu, Kenya, for paramilitary training.
The recruits were reportedly intercepted, arrested, and deported to Uganda before the training could begin.
The state further claims that Besigye requested military grade weapons, including surface to air missiles, ricin poison, and counterfeit currency, with plans to attack military installations and even allegedly assassinate President Yoweri Museveni using drone technology.
The prosecution’s evidence includes social media chats, video and audio recordings, immigration records, and phone call logs.
Besigye and Lutaale were arrested in Kenya on November 16, 2024, allegedly in possession of pistols and other prohibited items. Captain Oola, said to have joined the alleged plot in October 2023, is accused of expressing support for the coup attempt in WhatsApp messages.
The matter is expected to return in Court on October 8, 2025, when Justice Baguma is scheduled to respond to Besigye’s written concerns.
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