{The former FDC presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, has applied to the High Court in Kampala, seeking bail.}
Dr Besigye, who is currently incarcerated at Luzira prison on treason charges arising out of his alleged swearing-in of himself as president of Uganda, filed his bail application on June 7.
In his application, Dr Besigye, who states that he will represent himself with his current address being Luzira prison, cites about 10 grounds why he wants to be released.
These include being of advanced age of 60 years, uncertainty of when his treason trial will commence, having substantial sureties and non-interference with investigations, among others.
“It’s in the interest of justice that I be admitted to bail as I enjoy a presumption of innocence. I am in a position where the commencement of my trial cannot be ascertained particularly in view of the commitment of judicial resources to the disposal of election petitions around the country and therefore should not be punished by remaining in prison,” Dr Besigye states.
Dr Besigye also said he is a law abiding citizen who meets the criteria of admission to bail and that once released, he would return to court to face trial as and when required.
To that effect, the head of the Criminal Division of the High Court, Justice Wilson Masalu Musene, has been allocated the file.
The hearing of the same bail application has been fixed for July 6 at 9am and court has since issued a production warrant to Luzira prison officials to produce Dr Besigye on that day.
The application comes at a time when Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court had ordered the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and police to expedite and conclude Dr Besigye’s treason investigations so that he can be sent to the High Court.
Prosecution alleges that Dr Besigye and others at large between February 20 and May 11 this year formed an intention to compel by force government to change its measures as to the lawfully established methods of acceding to the office of president of Uganda.
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