Amnesty International has called on Ugandan authorities to release opposition figure Kizza Besigye, condemning his arrest as a violation of international human rights law.
Besigye appeared at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala on Friday, according to a local newspaper. He was accompanied by Samuel Lubega Mukaaku, and both were arrested in central Kampala during a protest against rising commodity prices in 2022.
Besigye, 68, was tried in a military court in November 2023 on charges of illegal possession of arms and threatening national security. He also faces a charge of treason, a crime that carries a potential death penalty under military law.
The military trial has sparked anger among his supporters and concern from human rights groups. Amnesty International criticised his arrest, describing it as an “abduction” that lacks the protection of a fair trial.
Besigye’s lawyers, led by Erias Lukwago, requested that the court proceedings be halted because of his worsening health. Lukwago reported on Thursday that Besigye was ill and in need of urgent medical attention. His wife, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, said Besigye was on a hunger strike, but prison officials denied the claim.
The case continues to attract significant attention, with rights groups and political activists calling for his immediate release and a fair trial.