- Title: Uganda's opposition leader ordered detained till June 1
- Date: 18th May 2016
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (MAY 18, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** POLICE CONVOY OF ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS ESCORTING UGANDAN OPPOSITION FIGURE, KIZZA BESIGYE, TO COURT VAN CARRYING BESIGYE DRIVING INTO COURT COMPOUND, POLICE TRUCKS IN PURSUIT BESIGYE FLANKED BY POLICEMEN AND COURT ORDERLIES WALKING INTO COURT CHAMBERS VARIOUS OF BESIGYE IN THE DOCK AS CHARGES ARE READ COURT CLERK VARIOUS OF BESIGYE ADDRESSING COURT VARIOUS OF BESIGYE BEING ESCORTED OUT OF COURT POLICE CONVOY WITH BESIGYE DRIVING OUT OF COURT COMPOUND VEHICLES ON THE STREET PEOPLE IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAMPALA RESIDENT, OCHAN THOMAS, SAYING: "Personally I think those charges are baseless because from, what I know, their base is the swearing-in that was on social media which I do not think can amount to treason." (SOUNDBITE) (English) STUDENT, MUHUZA JUSTUS, SAYING: "Mr. Yoweri Museveni should hold dialogue with Kizza Besigye because he has been an instrument for peace in the region and holding dialogue, he has been a diplomat. We have seen in South Sudan, we have seen in Congo, calling for dialogue between the leaders and opposition parties, let him also be a role model in his own country, we want peace."
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2016 12:48
- Keywords: Uganda politics opposition Kizza Besigye court prison
- Location: KAMPALA AND RUKUNGIRI, UGANDA
- City: KAMPALA AND RUKUNGIRI, UGANDA
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014IC4QPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Uganda's main opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been ordered detained until June 1 on charges of treason, a judicial official said on Wednesday (May 18), days after he was accused of unlawfully declaring himself president.
Besigye lost to veteran leader Yoweri Museveni in presidential elections in February, but said the vote had been rigged. He was detained last week, then charged on Friday (May 13) with being sworn in as president in a mock ceremony, a charge sheet showed.
Besigye was driven in to court on Wednesday where he appeared before a judge.
A judiciary spokesman said the treason charges were freshly read to him and he was then remanded, expected to return to court on June 1.
Besigye, a perennial loser to Museveni, has been detained many times over the years. He was also charged with treason in 2005.
His lawyer, Moses Byamugisha, and allies said Besigye appeared without legal representation and said he was taken to court ahead of schedule early in the morning before being swiftly returned to Luzira maximum security prison near Kampala.
A government spokesman denied any such tactic.
Museveni was named winner of the election with 60 percent of the vote while Besigye came second with 35 percent.
The opposition has staged sporadic protests since the vote, leading to clashes with police and dozens of arrests.
The government denied charges that the election was rigged. But European Union monitors said the poll was carried out in an intimidating atmosphere orchestrated by state actors. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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