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Opposition leaders demand unconditional release of Dr. Besigye
Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
| Kampala — Prominent opposition leaders in Uganda have called for the unconditional release of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, condemning their trial in military courts as an illegal and politically motivated act designed to silence government critics.
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NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi
The Opposition political parties and other formations of political change are calling for the release and dropping of charges on Rt.Col Kizza Besigye.
In a joint released statement by they request C.J Owinyi-Odolo to rise and put an end to the military trial of civilians in court martial.
They have also condemned and demanded that both Besigye and Haji Obedi Lutale be referred to civilian courts for trial including other political prisoners or charges to be dropped from them.
On 16th November 2024 both Besigye and Haji Lutale were kidnapped from Kenya by Ugandan operatives on allegations of possessing weapons and other army ammunition.
The demands have been revealed during the joint meeting of opposition party leaders at Parliament hosted by LOP Joel Ssenyonyi and among them was NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, ANT president Mugisha Muntu, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, John Ken Lukyamuzi and others.
Prominent opposition leaders in Uganda have called for the unconditional release of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, condemning their trial in military courts as an illegal and politically motivated act designed to silence government critics.
During a joint press briefing held at Parliament today, leaders from various opposition parties, including Robert Kyagulanyi (National Unity Platform), Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation), Ken Lukyamuzi (Conservative Party), Kibirige Mayanja (Justice Forum), Sadam Gayiira (People’s Progressive Party), and Elias Lukwago, expressed solidarity against what they described as state-sanctioned persecution.
“Military Court is not a legitimate court”
Erias Lukwago, a lawyer representing Dr. Besigye, emphasized that military courts have no jurisdiction over civilians and called their usage unconstitutional.
“It is a disciplinary committee, at best a tribunal, but not a court within the meaning of the law,” Lukwago stated. “By continuing to call it a court, we are sanitizing it. It is high time we came out assertively and aggressively to say enough is enough.”
Source:Kiyingi Godfrey/KMA Updates and Torch Media