Ugandan military court has resumed the trial of veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, accused of weapons possession and other charges. The 68-year-old retired army colonel, abducted last year from Kenya, appeared alongside co-accused Obeid Lutale, with Kenyan opposition lawyer Martha Karua leading his defense under a temporary Ugandan license.
Tensions arose as military personnel reportedly blocked Besigye’s lawyers from court entry, and lawyer Eron Kiiza was detained for alleged misconduct, sentenced to nine months without formal charges. Defense teams criticized the trial as unjust, citing increasing government crackdowns on opposition figures.
Besigye, once President Yoweri Museveni’s personal physician, has faced repeated targeting since opposing the president in the late 1990s and contesting him in four elections. The trial coincides with Uganda’s preparations for 2026 elections, including the commencement of voter registration.