The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party has accused Justice Emmanuel Baguma of hindering judicial independence after he dismissed Besigye’s human rights enforcement application in the absence of his defense lawyers.
According to the party statement released on Thursday, July 9th, 2026, Baguma dismissed the human rights enforcement application of Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale, willfully ignoring the fact that the application was heard with absolutely no defense lawyers present, something that exposes judicial incompetence.
“Despite global condemnation, Baguma claims he is “not aware” that our leaders were illegally abducted from Nairobi, Kenya. He claims he “doesn’t know” that they were first dragged to a military court-martial before being dumped into civil courts. How can a High Court judge be this blind to blatant transnational repression?” The statement read in part.
The party insisted that its leader Besigye will not continue seeking a fair trial in the courts that are presided over by judges that allegedly run by the head of state.
“But when the head of the executive dictates the narrative and a dishonest judge swiftly executes the orders, how can anyone expect a fair trial? This is the absolute peak of state-sponsored lawlessness and institutional capture. It reveals the true and desperate face of the Museveni regime,” the statement read.
However, Justice Baguma has since noted that Besigye’s lawyers have been abusing the court process by protesting the prosecution of applications in their alleged move to demand fair trials.
The party leadership further revealed that Besigye will not soon give up on the struggle for freedom, stating that his life has been defined by unyielding defiance against tyranny.
Opposition political veteran Kizza Besigye was arrested in November 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, and brought to Uganda, where he is facing charges of treason and illegal possession of firearms. He is currently in custody, with prosecutors alleging that he held meetings in several foreign countries to plot to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government.
