Chaos unfolded at the judiciary headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday when a team of lawyers representing the opposition political activist Dr. Kizza Besigye and his political ally, Hajj Obeid Lutale, were briefly prevented by security personnel from entering the premises to meet Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo. 

The lawyers, including Kenya’s former Minister of Justice and deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Mukono North MP Abudallah Kiwanuka, and lawyer Eron Kiiza, among others, were briefly barred from entering the premises.

After a tense standoff, the lawyers were eventually granted access. However, the journalists accompanying them were denied entry.

The lawyers wanted to meet the Chief Justice to discuss the issue of civilians being tried in military courts, a practice declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. 

The lawyers’ efforts to meet with Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo were futile as they were informed that he was engaged in another meeting.

Karua condemned the manner in which the lawyers and the media were treated.

“I would like to convey that we have drawn the attention of the private secretary to the Chief Justice to what we consider mistreatment of the press, not allowing the press to accompany us to the visit, delaying us at the gate in their effort to bar the press. This is a public place. The press is a component of a public place; trials should be public, a visit like they should be public, and a judiciary should be open,” Karua said. 

Besigye and Lutale are being prosecuted in the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala, on four counts relating to security and illegal possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition.

When they first appeared in court on November 20, 2024, Besigye challenged their prosecution in the military court on grounds that they are not members of the armed forces.

“I object to the court of the military because I am not a member of the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Forces), and I ask that I be tried in a civilian court if I have committed any offense,” he said.

However, the prosecution rejected his submission, stating that Section 117 of the UPDF Act allows the army to subject civilians to military law.

The State asked the military court to go ahead and try the accused.

The Chairman of the General Court Martial, Brigadier Freeman Mugabe, ruled that the law allows the military court to try civilians.

The charges against Besigye and Lutale are alleged to have been committed in Nairobi, Greece, and Switzerland.

The lawyers of the accused said that the charges against their clients are fabricated.

They added that a Ugandan court has jurisdiction to try cases committed outside of Uganda.

Besigye and Lutale will return to court on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, for a ruling and mention.

By ChimpReports