Africa-Press – Uganda. The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has condemned what it describes as “blatant judicial sabotage and state-sponsored harassment” in the ongoing treason trial of their leader and veteran opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, his political ally Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, and UPDF Captain Denis Oola.
In a strongly worded statement issued via the party’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, criticizes the Ugandan government for repeated delays in court proceedings, failure to disclose evidence, and interference with spiritual activities connected to the detained leaders.
“The People’s Front for Freedom condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the blatant judicial sabotage and state-sponsored harassment displayed in the ongoing trial of our leaders,” the statement reads.
For over 15 months, the PFF asserts, the Museveni administration and its legal apparatus have claimed readiness to prosecute the treason case but have repeatedly failed to provide full disclosure of evidence to the defense.
On Tuesday, the High Court in Kampala adjourned proceedings to March 12, 2026, after the prosecution failed to meet a court-mandated deadline for full evidence disclosure.
Presiding Judge Emmanuel Baguma had directed the state to make full disclosure by March 3, warning that the trial cannot proceed without compliance.
“The state had audacity to ask for more time simply to transfer files onto flash drives. This is not a legal hurdle; it is a stalling tactic designed to keep innocent men under the thumb of the state,” the statement read.
During Tuesday’s session, defense lawyer Martha Karua emphasized that conferencing and further court proceedings cannot proceed without full access to the case materials. Lukwago, representing the defense, highlighted concerns over Besigye’s health and the continued denial of bail, urging the court to take note of the prosecution’s conduct.
“The health of Dr. Kizza Besigye is worrying to us. Any delay inadvertently occasioned by the prosecution cannot be ignored,” Lukwago said.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko stated that partial evidence had been disclosed, including audio and video recordings and witness statements. Efforts were ongoing to transfer the materials to devices accessible to the defense.
He added that a forensic report was being organized and requested time until March 3 to complete disclosure.
The current adjournment follows a previous court session on January 21, when the Uganda Prisons Service failed to produce the accused. That delay was linked to conflicting reports about Besigye’s health.
Prisons authorities dismissed claims that he was unwell, and the Deputy Registrar of the High Court Criminal Division proposed that Besigye appear via Zoom, which the defense rejected, insisting on a physical appearance.
Since then, reports of Besigye’s deteriorating health have intensified. The Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who recently visited political detainees, claimed he was not allowed to see Besigye, who reportedly had lost his voice.
Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi stated that Besigye was suffering from diarrhea but did not indicate any life-threatening condition.
Besigye has been in detention for over a year following his arrest in Nairobi in November 2024. A former personal physician to President Museveni and a four-time presidential candidate, Besigye faces treason charges, an offense that carries the death penalty upon conviction.
In a move the PFF describes as “sheer vindictiveness,” a Holy Mass planned at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Lubaga, to pray for Besigye and other political prisoners was unexpectedly postponed on Monday until further notice.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere was to lead the 2 p.m. service, but Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS Executive Director Eng Winnie Byanyima
informed worshippers that the mass had been postponed following a request from President Museveni, pending further investigation amid claims that the gathering could be politically motivated.
Byanyima expressed concern over the postponement and her husband’s wellbeing. Hundreds of worshippers remained in silent prayer and hymn singing before dispersing, reflecting the wider unease surrounding Besigye’s continued detention.
“To deny a man the right to pray and the solace of Mass is to attempt to break his soul where his body has refused to bend. Even in the darkest moments of Uganda’s history, the right to seek spiritual counsel was respected. Today, under this regime, even God is treated as a security threat,” the statement read.
The PFF asserts that the state’s repeated requests for administrative extensions reveal either incompetence or bad faith, prolonging the detention and restriction of its leaders. The party criticized the judiciary for granting “courtesy” to state delays while showing no such grace to the accused.
The upcoming court dates of March 3 for disclosure and March 12 for final scheduling, the PFF claims, are “simply code for indefinite detention without trial.”
“The continued incarceration and trial by attrition of Dr. Besigye and Hajji Obeid is a stain on the Ugandan legal system. We demand an immediate end to this judicial and now spiritual persecution,” the statement added.
