UGANDA: Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye is charged with terrorism at army court martial in Kampala

Record ID: 194664

  • Title: UGANDA: Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye is charged with terrorism at army court martial in Kampala
  • Date: 25th November 2005
  • Summary: KIZZA BESIGYE IN COURT KIZZA BESIGYE TURNS TO SIT DOWN
  • Embargoed: 10th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uganda
  • Country: Uganda
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVACGXAB5D0TAHOXMLT4205IIXEQ
  • Story Text: Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, already accused of treason by the state, was slapped with separate military charges of terrorism and weapons offences before an army court martial on Thursday (November 24).
    Besigye was expected to be the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni in the nation's first multi-party polls in 19 years, due before March. He was arrested on Nov. 14, less than three weeks after returning to Uganda from four years in exile.
    Besigye's arrest triggered the East African country's worst riots in decades as his supporters and disaffected youths took to the streets and destroyed property.
    It has also fed ammunition to critics of Museveni, who say the former rebel's rule has become increasingly autocratic.
    "Besigye is going to be condemned to death by a kangaroo court," his wife, Winnie Byanyima, told reporters after the hearing as her husband was driven away in a prison bus.
    The 49-year-old leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party had been due to appear before the civilian high court for a bail hearing on Thursday. Diplomats said that hearing now seemed irrelevant, since Besigye also faced military charges.
    "My client has been charged with terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms," Besigye's lawyer and top FDC member Sam Njuba told reporters outside the court martial.
    He said Besigye, as a civilian, refused to recognise the legitimacy of the military court and had refused to speak at the hearing.
    The head of the court martial, General Elly Tumwine, entered a plea of "not guilty" on his behalf. Eighteen of Besigye's 22 suspected accomplices appeared before Tumwine on the same charges last week, and also refused to plead.
    Besigye is due to appear before Tumwine again on Friday (November 25).
    The opposition says the charges against Besigye -- once Museveni's personal doctor and his opponent in the 2001 presidential election -- are politically motivated and an attempt to sideline Museveni's main challenger before the vote.
    But prosecutors say the leader of the FDC conspired with rebels, including the notorious northern Lord's Resistance Army, and raped a woman in 1997.
    On Saturday, Museveni was elected unopposed as his party's presidential candidate in the next election. In his acceptance speech, he did not mention his jailed former ally.
    Security at Besigye's court martial hearing was tight, with three armoured fighting vehicles patrolling the street outside.
    The government had warned Ugandans not to protest during Besigye's bail hearing, saying any demonstrations could prejudice his right to a fair trial.
    In dramatic scenes inside, two members of Besigye's legal team -- lawyers Elias Lukwago and Caleb Alaka -- were arrested for contempt of court after arguing with Tumwine.
    Their case was due to be heard later on Thursday.
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