A fresh legal battle has emerged in the treason case involving opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye after the High Court ordered the trial to proceed within days despite objections from the defence team.
Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court Criminal Division directed that all pre-trial proceedings be concluded by June 8, 2026.
The judge also ordered the prosecution to begin presenting witnesses on June 11.
Dr. Besigye is jointly charged alongside his aide, Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and UPDF Captain Denis Oola.
The trio faces accusations of plotting to overthrow the Ugandan government.
State prosecutors told court that they had already handed over all evidence intended for use during the trial.
The evidence reportedly includes numerous documents as well as nearly ten hours of audio and video recordings.
However, defence lawyers argued that the timeline set by the court is too short to allow adequate preparation.
The legal team, led by Erias Lukwago, asked for at least one month to review the material and consult their clients.
They said the task is made more difficult because the accused persons remain detained at Luzira Prison.
According to the defence, prison restrictions limit access to laptops and other devices needed to review digital evidence.
Lawyers also complained that meetings with their clients are restricted, especially during weekends and public holidays.
A prison officer, ASP Timothy Wasike, confirmed that weekend visits are generally not allowed.
He told court that exceptions can be made if directed by a court order.
In response, Justice Baguma instructed prison authorities to facilitate lawyer-client meetings during weekends and public holidays.
He also ordered that suitable facilities be provided to enable the defence team to review the evidence.
Despite the ruling, defence lawyers maintained that the time available remains insufficient.
They further argued that some prosecution evidence, including statements from at least five individuals, has not yet been disclosed.
The defence also requested that constitutional questions arising from the case be referred to the Constitutional Court.
Among the issues raised is the interpretation of the constitutional right to “adequate time and facilities” for preparing a defence.
The lawyers questioned whether a seven-day preparation period meets that standard.
Justice Baguma said he would decide whether to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, prosecutors allege that the accused held meetings in several cities, including Nairobi, Geneva, Athens and Kampala, to mobilise resources for the alleged plot.
The state claims it possesses audio recordings, videos, phone records and immigration documents linking the trio to the accusations.
For now, Besigye, Lutale and Captain Oola remain on remand at Luzira Prison as they await the next stage of the high-profile case.
