“According to the court record, the Applicants were committed on 29s May, 2025 and the matter was fixed for plea taking on lsr September, 2025, but to date the Applicants have never taken plea- Instead, they resulted in filing applications after applications, making the process of plea taking difficult. It is therefore my view and opinion that for the interest of justice to both parties, the
Applicants should proceed to take plea. If they so wish, they can apply for bail at any later stage if there is any delay in hearing of their case. I am aware and alive to the constitutional right of presumption of innocence of the Applicants until proven guilty. In the final result, and for the reasons stated above, this application for stay of proceedings in Criminal Session Case No. 335 of 2025 and releasing the Applicants on bail is dismissed. I will therefore direct that the Applicants first proceed to take plea immediately” (Col. (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye and Another v Uganda (Criminal Application No. 814 of 2025) [2025] UGHCCRD 67 (29 December 2025).
“UPDATE: Dr Kizza Besigye has declined to take plea at High Court, saying he has been denied the constitutional right to consult his lawyers. The judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf and formally set his trial in motion” (…) “He earlier ordered amendment of the indictment within 15 minutes and ordered the defence to take extra 15 minutes to prepare their clients, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale to take a plea” (NBS Television, 30.12.2025).
This here is injustice in action. After being detained over a year with no movement in the Courts or by the Authorities. The state has delayed the case and the proceedings. Now the Judge himself Justice Emmanuel Baguma has proven how vicious he is and what his willing to do. Not that the Judge has a proven track-record or has been an honest judge to begin with in this case. No, he is jus prolonging the agony and ensuring his following orders for high above.
There can be no gains earned from this. They are just ensuring the man longevity behind bars. There is nothing proven, evidence or witnesses that can prove the alleged crimes, the charges or even make sense of the proceedings. The jumping-jacks that the state is doing to keep Besigye and associates behind bars is infuriating. As there is no legal basis for it and only misuse of power to do so.
They have detained these people without any proof or even sort of reasoning, only delayed, delayed and delayed. Used every step of the way to secure their demise without furthering the case. That’s why the defence and the attorneys representing Besigye and associates has tried to free them on bail, but the state has denied that every single time. Therefore, they are just kept as prisoners and being detained without any sentencing. That’s the gist of the things.
This is political prosecution and they are prisoners of conscience. They are just amending charges, but not giving proof or any sort of justification of doing so. It is just a hogwash attempt of continuing it. They are not even concealing it either.
That’s why the judge just so brazenly without a shadow of doubt designate their status and prepares their plea. This is a new precedence, just like the revocation and the stopping of bail applications, which has been done four times in this regard. It just shows what they do… and how far they are willing to take it.
There is no proof or evidence of criminal conspiracy. That’s why they do this play, as the vilification and weaponized judiciary are there to target the leaders of opposition and the ones who dares to challenge the state. This is why Besigye and associates are behind bars and nothing else. Peace.
MinBane 