Kampala, Uganda – April 23, 2025
Opposition figure and four-time presidential candidate, Col. Dr Kizza Besigye, is banking on a judicial "change of heart" as his legal team heads back to the High Court today for a second attempt at securing his release on bail.
Dr Besigye, who has now spent more than 150 days in detention, is facing treason charges alongside his longtime ally, Obeid Lutale. The charges stem from what authorities allege were attempts to incite the public against the government.
The duo’s first bail application was denied earlier this month by High Court Judge Rosette Comfort Kania, despite their legal team insisting that all legal prerequisites for bail had been fulfilled. These included Besigye’s advanced age, a permanent place of residence, and the presentation of substantial sureties.
"We are hopeful that this time the court will consider the overwhelming merits of our application," said a member of Besigye's legal team, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "This is not just a matter of legal interpretation—it’s a matter of justice and constitutional rights."
The continued detention of Dr Besigye has drawn criticism from human rights groups and opposition politicians who accuse the government of using the judiciary to suppress dissent.
“We demand his immediate release. Prolonged detention without conviction is a violation of his rights,” said an official from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the party Besigye formerly led.
As the court prepares to hear the new bail application, all eyes remain fixed on the judiciary to see whether it will uphold what Besigye's supporters call “basic principles of fairness and liberty.”
A ruling is expected later this week.
