Latest news with #KizzaBesigye
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Uganda court denies bail to opposition leader Kizza Besigye in treason case
A Ugandan judge has refused to grant bail to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges. Judge Emmanuel Baguma said on Friday that the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he falls short by 12 days to meet the requirements to secure bail. His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting. The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Uganda's national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election. The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes. Four elections lost A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood against the incumbent leader in four elections. He lost all the elections but rejected the results and alleged fraud and voter intimidation. Besigye has not said whether he is running again. Besigye has been arrested numerous times over the years, including in 2022 on charges of inciting violence. Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Ugandan court denies bail to veteran opposition leader in treason case
KAMPALA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A Ugandan judge refused to grant bail on Friday to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges. The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Uganda's national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election. The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes. A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against Museveni in four elections. He has not said whether he is running again. Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court. His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting. Judge Emmanuel Baguma said the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he falls short by 12 days in order to secure bail.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Ugandan court denies bail to veteran opposition leader in treason case
FILE PHOTO: Uganda's four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye sits in the dock where he was charged with treason alongside his colleague Obeid Lutale and Captain Denis Oola at the Chief Magistrate Court in Nakawa suburb of Kampala, Uganda, February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa/File Photo KAMPALA (Reuters) -A Ugandan judge refused to grant bail on Friday to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges. The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Uganda's national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election. The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes. A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against Museveni in four elections. He has not said whether he is running again. Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court. His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting. Judge Emmanuel Baguma said the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he falls short by 12 days in order to secure bail. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hereward Holland and Alison Williams)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ugandan court denies bail to veteran opposition leader in treason case
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Uganda's four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye sits in the dock where he was charged with treason alongside his colleague Obeid Lutale and Captain Denis Oola at the Chief Magistrate Court in Nakawa suburb of Kampala, Uganda, February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Abubaker Lubowa/File Photo KAMPALA - A Ugandan judge refused to grant bail on Friday to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges. The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Uganda's national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election. The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes. A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against Museveni in four elections. He has not said whether he is running again. Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court. His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting. Judge Emmanuel Baguma said the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he falls short by 12 days in order to secure bail. REUTERS
Al Arabiya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Behind Bars, Ugandan Opposition Figure Besigye Launches a New Political Party
The party of opposition figure Kizza Besigye was launched in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Tuesday with its jailed leader behind bars for alleged treason. Supporters at the event carried a framed portrait of Besigye, who was expected to address the launch of his People's Front for Freedom either by video conference or through a written message. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been jailed since November on charges he plotted to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni. Prosecutors cite treason, a crime that carries the death penalty in the east African country. They say Besigye solicited military support overseas to destabilize national security. Besigye's attorneys and followers say the charges are politically motivated, calculated to remove him from political contestation over Uganda's future after Museveni, who is 80. Besigye has been repeatedly denied bail even as his attorneys cite his poor health. Uganda's next presidential election is set for January 2026. Museveni, who first took power by force in 1986, has declared his candidacy in a presidential bid that, if successful, would bring him closer to a half-century in power. The opposition figure known as Bobi Wine will also be a candidate, reprising their contest in the 2021 election. It remains unclear if the jailed Besigye will be on the ballot. Lawmaker Ibrahim Ssemujju, a spokesman for the People's Front for Freedom, told reporters on the eve of the party's launch that Besigye was jailed for 'no crime committed but because it gives Mr. Museveni and his son gratification that Besigye is in jail, that they have conquered him.' 'I think they may even throw a party to celebrate,' he charged. 'But Dr. Besigye will speak to us as our leader–leader of our party but also leader of our struggles.' Museveni's son, army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has accused Besigye of plotting to kill his father and once said the opposition figure should be hanged. Kainerugaba has repeatedly asserted his wish to succeed his father in the presidency, raising fears of hereditary rule in Uganda. Museveni has said Besigye must answer for the 'very serious offenses he is alleged to have been planning' and has called for a quick trial 'so that facts come out.' Many Ugandans expect an unpredictable political transition from Museveni, who has no obvious successor within the ranks of the ruling National Resistance Movement party. Real power is concentrated in the military and intelligence apparatus. Besigye, a physician who retired from Uganda's military at the rank of colonel, is a former president of the Forum for Democratic Change party, for many years Uganda's most prominent opposition group. He has long been a fierce critic of Museveni, for whom he once served as a military assistant and personal doctor. Uganda has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from colonial rule six decades ago.
