Court orders prosecution on remaining witnesses in Besigye case

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The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court has directed the prosecution team to lead its remaining three witnesses against veteran politician Dr Kizza Besigye.

In the case, 68-year-old Besigye — a four-time presidential candidate — is accused of inciting violence.

On Friday (May 31), prosecution failed to present witnesses to testify against Besigye and fellow politician Samuel Walter Lubega.

They are battling the charge of inciting violence — an offense that attracts a maximum punishment of imprisonment for three years on conviction.

The offence against Besigye and Lubega stems from an assembly they allegedly held in Kampala city centre on June 14, 2022, in protest against the surge in prices of essential commodities such as sugar, bread, cooking oil, soap, and fuel.

Prosecutors, who have so far produced three witnesses, argue that the alleged assembly was unlawful.

The case came up for further hearing on Friday.

State attorney Ivan Kyazze informed court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya that one of the eyewitnesses (a civilian) received phone calls reportedly threatening him not to show up in court to testify against Besigye.

Kyazze asked the magistrate to give his team some time to device means of protecting his witness.

He also told court that the other two witnesses being Police officers are engaged in security duties at the Namugongo Martyrs site ahead of the June 3 Uganda Martyrs' Day commemoration.

This prompted the magistrate to adjourn the case until August 9 when she will hear all the remaining witnesses.