The Chief Magistrate’s court sitting at Buganda Road Court has adjourned Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Samuel Lubega Mukaaku’s case to February 20, 2025.
The two are charged with inciting violence during a 2022 demonstration in Kampala against the high cost of living.
Supporters of Rtd Col Kizza Besigye were moved to tears as he appeared at Buganda Road Magistrates Court in visibly poor health. Besigye looked worn out, sparking concern among his followers.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Kampala, Nyanjura Doreen, expressed her distress on social media, stating, “People, our leader Dr. @kizzabesigye1 is visibly unwell, he is gasping for air and is in a sorry state. This is painful and hard to take in.”
During the hearing, Besigye appeared before Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko.
‘’The court adjourns the matter to Thursday 20 February 2025 for a ruling. However, the court is not blind to what is happening and by this adjournment am ordering prisons if on such a date his still in your custody produce him in court,’’ Jatiko stated.
His lawyers, led by Erias Lukwago, argued that court proceedings should not continue in his current state, describing it as a violation of his human rights. Despite a Supreme Court ruling last month halting the trial of civilians in military courts, Besigye remains on remand facing court martial charges.
The four-time presidential candidate was brought to court after missing the previous hearing due to ill health. He reportedly informed the court on Tuesday through a letter delivered by the Prisons Service that he was indisposed, having begun a hunger strike a week earlier.
However, Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine before the public yesterday, Thursday, February 13, 2025 refuted claims that Besigye is on a hunger strike.
“These allegations are not true. Dr. Besigye has had all his meals, and there is no reason to believe otherwise,” Baine said.
Baine further clarified that Besigye is not in solitary confinement and interacts regularly with over 18 fellow inmates. He attributed the allegations of Besigye’s potential harm to external sources, noting that the Commissioner General of Prisons had limited his interactions with outsiders to prevent false claims.
“If someone in our custody claims their life is in danger, we must ensure their well-being, even in the darkest spots,” Baine stated.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the controversy surrounding Besigye’s health and continued detention despite the Supreme Court ruling.
