In a new development, the military court martial sitting in Makindye has slapped Dr Kizza Besigye and his colleague Hajji Obeid Lutale with additional treachery charges in their case of illegal possession of ammunition and firearms.

Dr Kizza Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale, while appearing at the Makindye court martial today, January 13, 2025, were handed the charges however are yet to take a plea.

During the amendment of the charge sheet, the judge advocate Brigadier General Richard Tukachungurwa advised the court that the charge sheet can be amended as long as it does not affect justice.

The prosecution then asked the court to amend the charge sheet so as to introduce a new suspect known as Captain Ola Dennis RO 1273, who is connected to the offense, and add another count of treachery.

However, Besigye’s defense lawyers protested the amendment, prompting a court adjournment to deliberate on the proceeding.

The chairperson of the court martial, Brigadier Freeman Mugabe, argued that a ruling on the court’s jurisdiction remains pending.

Dr Kizza Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale are yet to take a plea to these treachery charges.

Erias Lukwago, however, said that his clients Dr Besigye and Obeid Lutale, had the right to refuse to take a plea since the general court martial has no jurisdiction to try a person who was abducted from another jurisdiction.

“There was no deportation order or extradition work since our clients were illegally abducted from Kenya and produced in Ugandan court with total disregard of due process,” Lukwago said.

Martha Karua, Besigye’s Kenyan advocate, said that there was no court order to have Besigye extradited from Kenya.

Besigye and co-accused Obeid Lutale were arrested at Riverside Hotel in Kenya in November 2024 and charged with offenses related to security and unlawful possession of firearms and have since been at remand in Luzira prison.