Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye has launched a fierce attack on High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma, accusing him of incompetence and bias in handling his ongoing detention case.

Speaking before the Kampala High Court on October 8, 2025, after 327 days in custody, Dr. Besigye said he had petitioned the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to terminate Justice Baguma’s appointment.

He claimed the judge had mishandled their case and failed to deliver justice, saying his conduct reflected either “gross incompetence or clear bias.”

Dr. Besigye appeared in court alongside his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Kamulegeya Lutale. He recounted how he was arrested in Nairobi on November 16 last year by armed men, forced into a vehicle, and driven to Uganda, where he was detained at Makindye Military Barracks for four days despite being a civilian.

He condemned the government’s actions as illegal detention, saying that even after the General Court Martial, which had initially remanded them was later declared unconstitutional, they were not released or properly reprocessed by the police as required by law.

“We remained in illegal custody after the court was scrapped, even though our remand warrant had expired,” Besigye told court.

Dr. Besigye also questioned why their case was being heard before the High Court instead of the International Crimes Division (ICD), where it had previously been referred. He suggested that the move might be a deliberate attempt to delay justice.

He urged Justice Baguma to step down in light of the complaint filed against him with the JSC, arguing that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”

The High Court has not yet responded to Dr. Besigye’s petition or bail application. He appealed for clarity on why the case was transferred and whether it was appropriate to continue proceedings while a formal complaint against the presiding judge is pending.