Besigye orders lawyers to boycott Ugandan judge over bias

Ugandan veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye has directed his lawyers to boycott proceedings before High Court judge Emmanuel Baguma, accusing him of bias.

Speaking in Kampala on Tuesday, lawyer Kato Tumusiime said Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, had given "clear instructions" to their legal team not to appear before Justice Baguma.

"We have clear instructions from our clients not to appear before a judge who has taken sides," Tumusiime told reporters, according to The Monitor.

"This judge is not independent. His decisions are not based on law but on the interests of those who appointed him."

Another member of the defence, Counsel Eron Kiiza, accused Baguma of presiding over Besigye's matters "against logic, the law, and morality," claiming that his treason case had initially been committed to the International Crimes Division (ICD) before it was "grabbed" and placed under the judge's control.

"The files were grabbed from the ICD and are now under his control," Kiiza said.

Earlier in the day, Besigye's other lawyer, Frederick Mpango, sought more time to consult him on whether to continue appearing before Baguma in regards to a second ordinary bail application.

"My Lord, I am not in a position to proceed without the applicants' final instructions," Mpanga told the court, requesting an adjournment.

Prosecutors Thomas Jatiko and Richard Birivumbuka did not object to the plea, with the judge granting the request.

The standoff follows Justice Baguma's recent decision denying Besigye mandatory bail, ruling that the former presidential candidate had not served the minimum 180 days in custody required to qualify.

His lawyers, operating under Lukwago & Co. Advocates, later petitioned for the judge's disqualification, accusing him of deliberately delaying bail applications.

However, Justice Baguma rejected the request, saying the defence had failed to provide sufficient evidence.

Besigye, a four-time presidential contender, went missing in Kenya in November 2024 after attending the launch of a book by Narc Kenya leader and former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua.

He was last seen at an apartment complex on Riverside Drive in Nairobi's Westlands area before being ferried to a military jail in Uganda.

Besigye was later charged with treason, alongside his aide Hajj, an offence that can carry the death penalty in Uganda. He has remained in custody since.

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