Besigye Facing Charges for Crimes ‘Committed Abroad’ — In A Court That Doesn’t Really Like Civilians

It is a plot twist that no one saw coming—well, except maybe every Ugandan who has followed the political drama of the last two decades. Dr. Kizza Besigye, the perennial political opponent of Uganda’s ruling regime, has suddenly found himself in the military court again. And this time, it is not for anything that happened in Uganda, but rather for alleged mischief in far flung places like Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya. Yes, Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya. Not exactly the hotbeds of international conspiracy.

This recent episode of “Besigye vs. The System” began with the arrest of Besigye and his associate, Hajji Obeid Lutale, in Nairobi on November 16. They were nabbed while they were off to attend Martha Karua’s book launch. Now, as Ugandans who know the drill, attending a book launch is hardly the sort of thing that leads to a military tribunal. But in this case, the government saw fit to charge the duo with four counts of—wait for it—possessing a pistol in Nairobi, and for allegedly holding secret meetings in Greece and Switzerland with the intent to undermine Uganda’s security. They were apparently plotting to destabilize the country by sipping espresso in Europe.

FDC Has Strong Feelings About This Situation

Patrick Amuriat, president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), wasted no time in blasting the decision. He is not just upset. He is gravely concerned—and you can imagine how concerned he must be when the man arrested is practically the face of opposition in our beloved cattle republic.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter, because no one really calls it “X” without feeling slightly awkward), Amuriat raised his concerns about this blatant misuse of the military courts. According to him, this is just another example of the government abusing its power to shut down any form of dissent. This misuse, he says, is so blatant, it could be the headline of the year.

Amuriat is not just annoyed at the idea of civilian politicians facing a military tribunal. He is also deeply concerned about Uganda’s “persistent pattern of military abductions” from neighboring countries. If we are to follow this logic, it seems that Ugandan military officials are developing a fine taste for regional diplomacy—only in the form of snatching political opponents from Kenya and other neighboring countries without bothering to follow the due legal process.

Yes, there are plenty of Ugandan jokes about being abducted in Kenya, but this is serious business. Amuriat asks that the international community and regional authorities do their best to “unequivocally condemn these violations.” After all, this is the sovereignty of Kenya at stake here, not just Uganda’s internal squabbles.

Besigye: Not Having It with Army Court Jurisdiction

Besigye himself—being Besigye, and being Besigye—did not take this lying down. When he was brought to court, it was amid the kind of tight security you usually see around music stars like Alien Skin, who actually have a fanbase. He wasted no time in contesting the army court’s jurisdiction. After all, it is not like he or Lutale are members of the Ugandan army. They don’t even have the uniform. The only time Besigye might consider wearing military garb is when he is playing the role of revolutionary in some film production, and even then, only for role play.

But alas, this was not a film. Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe, chairperson of the court, calmly explained that the army court did, in fact, have jurisdiction over the case. Why? Because, apparently, the pair had allegedly been found in possession of firearms. And let’s face it—when you have a gun in Nairobi, it is not exactly a civilian matter. This was apparently enough of a reason to drag them through the military court system. Because you never know when a gun toting opposition member could ruin the peace of the nation.

Now, before we get all too excited about this courtroom drama, let us look at the bigger picture. Besigye and Lutale’s arrest comes hot on the heels of their alleged international escapades. Greece, Switzerland and Kenya sound like the kind of international meetings any self respecting Ugandan politician would be caught at.

But on a serious note, there is a lot of worry that Uganda’s legal and political system is increasingly looking like the a One Sided Show—the one where only the people who agree with the president get a starring role. Everyone else might find yourself taking a “vacation” in a military court without having done anything remotely military like.

The case continues to unfold, and Besigye is scheduled to remain in Luzira Maximum Security Prison until December 2, 2024. Luzira is, after all, Uganda’s answer to a five star political hotel—except, you know, with fewer amenities. But don’t worry, Besigye will get to pass the time with his usual mix of speeches, protests, and no shortage of political supporters calling for his release.

Maybe the next international conspiracy will happen in Italy. But for now, Besigye is fighting this battle in a military court, a place that might soon be a regular pit stop for any opposition politician who dares leave the country for a holiday.

The End? Not Quite.