Museveni Accuses Besigye Of Delaying Treason Trial
The story
President Museveni has accused opposition leader Kizza Besigye of creating unnecessary drama in court and deliberately refusing to stand trial over treason charges.
Speaking during a national address on Saturday, Museveni questioned why Besigye had not allowed the criminal proceedings against him to progress, arguing that a trial would provide him with an opportunity to challenge the government's case.
Details
"Besigye has created drama in courts of law. Why should the legal system for so long allow an accused person to just refuse to be tried? Is that a good system?" Museveni asked.
The President further argued that if Besigye believed the charges against him were politically motivated, the courtroom was the appropriate place to prove his innocence.
"Why would this great democrat and human rights fighter, Dr Kizza Besigye, spend so many calories on refusing to go to trial where he would have the opportunity to prove his innocence and expose the undemocratic behaviour of Museveni and his family?" he said.
Museveni also claimed that it was "almost two years" since Besigye's arrest and alleged that the opposition leader had spent that period refusing to face trial and misusing the legal process.
However, Besigye's case has undergone several significant legal turns since his arrest.
Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale, were arrested in Nairobi in November 2024 and initially charged before the General Court Martial with treason and misprision of treason.
Why it matters
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