By KT Reporter
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has blamed the continued delay in the treason trial of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr Kizza Besigye on what he described as courtroom drama orchestrated by the accused himself.
Speaking at the launch of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Strategic Plan 2025-2030 in Kampala on Thursday, Mao said the prosecution is ready to proceed with the case but has been frustrated by deliberate legal manoeuvres meant to stall the trial.
Mao dismissed claims that the delay stems from the State or the ODPP, insisting that the proceedings have been bogged down by repeated applications, constitutional references, and what he called attempts to choose judges.
“This is not Besigye’s wedding where he can choose his own venue and priest,” Mao quipped, drawing laughter from the audience. “It is a criminal trial. The drama must stop.”
The Minister’s remarks were in reference to Besigye’s recent efforts to challenge the composition of the court, including rejecting trial before the High Court’s Criminal Division, arguing that he had been committed to the International Crimes Division by the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Mao said such procedural tactics have slowed down justice, despite the ODPP being ready with evidence and fewer than 20 witnesses. He accused the defence of hiding behind technicalities to win sympathy from the court of public opinion.
“The only court proceeding that’s moving swiftly is that of public opinion, and the suspect is winning there,” Mao remarked. “Unfortunately, the public is being misled to think the State is keeping Besigye in prison intentionally,” Mao said, even though he, as Minister of Justice, has been unfairly accused of interfering in the case.
He called for improved communication between the ODPP and the public to counter misinformation, suggesting the creation of a dedicated ODPP spokesperson to clarify issues and “neutralise political spin.” “The ODPP cannot hold a press conference after every hearing,” he said. “We need someone who can clearly explain these cases to the public; otherwise, the defence will keep entertaining us with their antics.”
Dr Besigye is currently on remand at Luzira Prison alongside his aide Hajji Obeid Lutale, and Captain Denis Oola, facing charges of treason for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni.
The trio is accused of holding meetings in Athens, Geneva, and Nairobi to solicit financial and logistical support for their alleged plot. The group has been in custody since November 2024, when Besigye and Lutale were arrested in Kenya, where they had gone to attend a book launch by their lawyer, Martha Karua.
Their legal team has since filed several applications, including a petition for Justice Emmanuel Baguma to recuse himself from the case, accusing him of bias after he denied them bail. They also want the Constitutional Court to determine whether his continued involvement violates their right to a fair hearing, especially since they are also seeking his removal through the Judicial Service Commission.
Meanwhile, launching the new ODPP Strategic Plan, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo, who is set to assume office as Principal Judge, said the plan builds on three decades of institutional growth and sets a bold and forward-looking agenda for the next five years.
Abodo said the outgoing strategic plan (2020/21–2024/25), which aligned with the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) Strategic Investment Plan and Uganda’s Third National Development Plan (NDP III), delivered significant results. “We prosecuted over 900,000 criminal cases, surpassing our target by 269 per cent, and achieved a conviction rate of 68 per cent,” she said. “That reflects the dedication of our prosecutors who worked under immense pressure to deliver justice.”
She cited several landmark developments under her leadership, including new guidelines on Prosecution-Guided Investigations, Management of Land Crimes, Mutual Legal Assistance, Plea Bargaining, and Victim-Centred Investigations of Gender-Based Violence.
“These tools have enhanced the quality of prosecutions and strengthened collaboration with our partners, especially the Police and the Judiciary,” Abodo noted. She expressed optimism that the new Strategic Plan will build on these achievements, consolidate institutional reforms, and deliver even greater public confidence in the ODPP.
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