Uganda:Tight security as Besigye appears in Court

{Jailed Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has re-appeared in Nakawa Magistrate’s Court for a preliminary ruling on whether his treason case should be heard from Luzira Prison where he’s held on remand or court.}

On June 1, the state failed to produce Besigye in court claiming that his appearance posed a security threat.

Besigye had been scheduled to re-appear in court for the second time after two weeks ever since he was charged afresh with treason offenses.

Prosecution then asked the presiding Chief Magistrate James Ereemye to have Besigye’s case heard from Luzira Prison on grounds that his appearance in court posed a security threat.

However, Chief Magistrate Ereemye adjourned the case to today (June 15) when he would pronounce himself on prosecution’s application.

Subsequently, Besigye was brought to Court at around 8:30am amid tight security. All roads leading to Nakawa Court were also sealed off ahead of the magistrate’s pronouncement.

There’s also heavy traffic jam along Old Port bell road.

In Court, Chief Magistrate Ereemye overruled state’s request to have Besigye’s case heard from Luzira prison over security fears.

Chief Magistrate Ereemye said Dr Besigye must always appear in the court where he was arraigned.

He also ordered police and the director of Public Prosecution to hasten with their investigations into the case before adjourning it to June 29.

At his maiden court appearance at Nakawa Court, the four-time presidential candidate was not allowed to plead to the charges on grounds that they are capital in nature only triable by the High Court. Dr Besigye could not also ask for bail since the same court does not have jurisdiction to entertain his bail application.

He was then returned to Luzira prison amid tight security.

Prosecution alleges that Dr Besigye and others at large between February 20 and May 11 in diverse places of Uganda formed an intention to compel by force or constrain the government of Uganda as by law established to change its measures or counsels as to the lawfully established methods of acceding to the office of president of the Republic of Uganda.