In a strongly-worded letter to Justice Emmanuel Browning of the Migranda High Court, detained political leader Kizza Besigye has decried what he terms “strange and oppressive” court procedures that prevent him from raising concerns directly in open court.
The letter, dated October 2025, references Case No. 3350 of 2025, in which Besigye is the third accused. He recounts that during a previous hearing, he expressed his intention to raise matters of concern alongside other accused persons. However, Justice Browning reportedly declined the initial request, citing the presence of legal representatives.
Following what Besigye describes as a “spirited engagement” between the judge and four lawyers, the court offered a compromise. He was permitted to submit his concerns in writing by October 3rd, with a judicial response scheduled for October 8th.
Despite this arrangement, Besigye states that his lawyers were subsequently unable to seek clarification on the specific legal framework governing such communications, as they were “not given the opportunity” to do so.
The core of Besigye’s grievance is articulated in a poignant excerpt from the letter: “Being a person accused of a serious offense, I find it strange and oppressive if I cannot raise a concern directly in open court. If each time a written submission of the concern has to be made and a time fixed for your response, the case may never be concluded. Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison.”
Asserting his rights as an accused person, Besigye has formally requested the judge to “point me to the provisions of the law” that dictate how an accused person in court can interact with the judge in the presence of their lawyers. He concludes by stating that upon receiving the judge’s response, he will be guided by that law in raising his future concerns.
The letter has been shared on social media by supporters, who have amplified Besigye’s message with the hashtags #FreeKizzaBesigye, #FreeHajjiObeid, #FreeSamMugumya, and #FreedomForAll, framing the judicial process as part of a broader struggle for political freedom.
