A lawyer has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment by court martial in Makindye after he was found guilty of contempt of court.

City lawyer, Eron Kiiza was apprehended in the military court chambers where he had gone to represent jailed former opposition leader Dr Kiiza Besigye and his co accused Hajji Obeid Lutale who are facing charges of illegal possession of ammunition.

The court hearing scheduled today January 7, 2025 at the military court martial in Makindye came to an abrupt halt in a dramatic turn as Council Eron Kizza was whisked away by court security.

This was after chaos erupted in the chambers when military officers blocked Kiiza from accessing the bar, prompting him to bang on the barricade and insist on entering.

Kiiza was beaten and removed from the courtroom, but he managed to break free and join Besigye and co-accused Abeid Lutale Kamulegeya in the dock. However, he was rearrested, beaten again, and returned to the cells.

After the scuffle that lasted over 10 minutes, the presiding court martial chairperson Brigadier General Robert Freeman Mugabe immediately adjourned court for 30 minutes which sent some representatives fleeing for their lives.

According to Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe, the General Court chairperson Eron Kiiza had committed a contempt of court and should therefore be charged accordingly.

On resuming court, Besigye’s representatives; the lead council Martha Karua and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago declined the further procession of the trial on the orders of Dr Kizza Besigye.

“We have been advised by our client not to receive the court ruling as our team member Eron Kizza is still under arrest,” Lukwago said.

“Eron Kiiza is one of the key members of this team. If there is any issue this court had with him we pray it is resolved within court then we proceed with him,” Lukwago added.

In a statement issued by the court martial, Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe then passed an impromptu ruling on Eron Kiiza’s case and further adjourned Dr Kizza Besigye and co accused Obeid Lutale’s case to January 13th, 2025 for further hearing.

“The accused is therefore sentenced to nine months in prison for misconduct and contempt of court and is hereby sentenced to nine months in prison. The nine months are to be served at Kitalya prison,” Mugabe said.

However, Mayor Erias Lukwago condemned the arrest of Eron Kiiza as ‘a mockery of justice’

According to him, the court martial should exercise some civility while passing sentences.

“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for someone to be charged without evidence,” Lukwago said.

The occurrences came at a time when lead council Martha Karua had been given a temporary permit to allow her practice law in Uganda and was yet to appear before the court martial for the first time as Dr Kizza Besigye’s lead council.

Prior to opening of court premises, lawyers, media and other politicians were first denied entrance into the court house with heavy military police deployment around the Makindye based military court but were later allowed access after through checking.