Besigye and the co-accused Kamulegeya are not the first civilians to appear before the military court; many have been charged, and in the case of Micheal Kabaziguruka, the former MP for Nakawa division, the Constitutional Court held a decision that the General Court Martial has no power to try civilians, though this still continues to happen.

Four young Kenyan activists have been purportedly abducted by Kenyan security agencies, including Gabriel Oguda, Drey Mwangi, Shad Khalif, and Osama Otero, among others.