9TH November 2024.
By,Isaac senabulya .
The political opposition has called for both international and local pressure on Uganda’s government to drop what they referred to as "trumped-up charges" against veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Recently, while in Kenya, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obedi Lutaale were arrested for allegedly having firearms.
They were subsequently presented before the General Court Martial on charges related to national security and defense.
In an event organized at parliament by the leaders of the opposition Joel Ssenyonyi where the different opposition parties have signed a document showing commitment to fight for Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Haji Obedi Lutale rights to be tried in civilian courts, Ssenyonyi noted that it is high time they come up together and show solidarity of fighting kangaroo courts.
Ssenyonyi said that if they don’t come up condemning the way how Dr. Kiiza Besigye was abducted and arrested and other opposition leaders will be arrested in the same matter since the country is coming closer to 2026 a year of general elections.
During a joint opposition press conference that attracted, Forum for Democratic Change faction leader at katonga road who is also the Kampala city Lord Mayor ,Elias Lukwago , people’s Progressive Party chairman Sadam Gayira, Justice Forum elder Muhammad Kibirige ,Alliance for National Transformation president Mugisha Muntu, Conservative party president John Ken Lukyamuzi , where President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi ssentamu, condemned the continued trial of civilians in military courts.
He noted that the General Court Martial is being used as an oppressive tool by President Museveni, asserting that it cannot deliver justice.
Kyagulanyi said that the court martial has been turned into a tool of oppression by this regime since the commander in chief is the one who determines who to be charged from there noting that no one can get justice from that court if he or she is against the regime.
He demanded the government release Dr. Besigye and haji Obedi Lutale or else take them to the civilian courts.
“The court martial has been turned into a tool of operation by General Museveni, because he has a full control of it , he decides who gets charged in the court martial ,what charges are preferred against that person , and does gets the bail from that court ,he uses it to punish and intimidate his opponents and we condemn that , here we come together knowing that Dr.Kiizza Besigye and haji Obed Kamulegeya Lutale can not and will not get justice in that military court and therefore we jointly demand that besigye’s carges and that of Obed Kamulegeya be dropped and if can’t be dropped let them be charged in a civilian court,” said kyagulanyi .
General Mugisha Muntu, President of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), urged Ugandans to be deeply concerned about the management of national security. He criticized the mindset and approach of Ugandan operatives conducting security missions in other countries, calling their conduct a matter of serious concern for all Ugandans and the entire region.
“we should make all Ugandans concerned about this particular case , its not everyday that government go and abduct citizens from other countries and does not go through established channels where by a person is arrested ,” said Mugisha.
The lord mayor who also doubles as the president of peoples’ front for freedom Haji Erias Lukwago noted that noted that they won’t accept the injustice which is taking place on dr. Besigye to appear again and on any Ugandan.
Lukwago said that court-martial is not anywhere in the laws and in the constitution of this country noting that it is not allowed to try any civilian.
Lukwago has also revealed that they have already aligned a team of lawyers from Uganda Kenya, south Africa, Angola from other countries all willing to present Dr. Besigye and haji Obedi tomorrow to see that they are not tried in a military court which he termed as a disciplinary committee of army officers.
The former leader of the opposition in parliament and the former kasese district woman Mp Winnie Kiiza noted that any attack on the member of opposition is an attack of all opposition members and it is high time they condemn the president of uganda on the manner he is doing things in an effort to weaken the opposition which he will not succeed.
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