By Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister, General Kahinda Otafiire, has said that opposition leader and former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye remains “innocent in the court of public opinion,” despite facing treason charges in Uganda’s formal judicial system.
Speaking at the Uganda Law Society’s annual Rule of Law Week in Kampala, Gen. Otafiire emphasized the universal right to a fair trial, warning against the criminalization of political dissent and prolonged detentions without clear public explanation.
“Everyone involved in political struggles, including Dr. Besigye, must be tried in a court of law, where they can be either condemned or absolved,” Gen. Otafiire said.
‘Nothing Lost, Nothing Gained by Speaking the Truth’
The treason charges relate to alleged efforts by Dr. Besigye, his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Capt. Denis Oola to overthrow the Ugandan government.
According to the state’s charge sheet, the trio was allegedly abducted in Nairobi in 2024 after attending a book launch hosted by Kenyan politician Martha Karua. Prosecutors claim they later participated in meetings—both physical and virtual—in Switzerland, Greece, Kenya, and Uganda aimed at orchestrating a regime change.
Beyond their alleged involvement, the accused are also charged with failing to report knowledge of treasonous activities, a punishable offense under Ugandan law.
While the case continues, Gen. Otafiire’s remarks—made in the presence of Uganda’s Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka—have sparked fresh debate about the rule of law and the treatment of political opposition in the country.
“Honestly, keeping a man in jail for eight months and declaring him guilty without telling us what he has done—what do you expect us to think?” the minister asked. “As laymen in the court of public opinion, he is innocent until proven otherwise.”
He added: “No citizen should be denied a fair trial. You may like me or hate me for saying this, but as far as I’m concerned—nothing lost, nothing gained by speaking the truth.”
Judicial Process Under Scrutiny
Human rights advocates have long accused Ugandan authorities of using the judicial system to suppress dissent. Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential contender and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, has faced multiple arrests and charges over the years.
The case has once again drawn attention to the delicate balance between national security and political freedoms in Uganda, as well as the independence of the country’s prosecutorial and judicial arms.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which is under the purview of the Attorney General, has not issued a recent public statement on the progress of the case.
As the trial proceeds, all eyes remain on how Uganda’s justice system handles a case that continues to test both legal and political boundaries.
