Kampala – Jailed Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye has boycotted the start of his high-profile treason trial, intensifying a political standoff that has cast a long shadow over the country’s upcoming elections.
The trial, which has faced months of delays, was scheduled to begin on Monday. However, both Besigye and his co-defendant, aide Obed Lutale, refused to participate after their application for the presiding judge, Emmanuel Baguma, to recuse himself was denied. The defendants have publicly accused Judge Baguma of bias, though the specific grounds for their claim were not detailed in the initial report.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and the most prominent opponent of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, has been detained for months. His prolonged imprisonment has drawn significant international and domestic criticism, placing Museveni’s government under heightened scrutiny over its human rights record.
The case is unfolding against the backdrop of a tense political climate, with polls scheduled for early next year. President Museveni, 80, who has held power since 1986, is seeking re-election. The detention and trial of his chief rival have led opposition supporters and human rights groups to allege a politically motivated effort to sideline a key challenger.
The boycott is expected to further delay legal proceedings, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile electoral process. No new date for the trial has been immediately set.
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