The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has asked the High Court to allow it to conceal the identities of six prosecution witnesses in the treason trial involving opposition figure Kizza Besigye and two co-accused, citing security threats.
In an affidavit filed with the court, Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo said revealing the witnesses’ identities at this stage could endanger them and their families.
The six witnesses are expected to testify in High Court Criminal Case No. 0008 of 2025, in which Besigye and his co-accused face charges of treason and misprision of treason under the Penal Code Act.
Kyomuhendo said the trial has already commenced and the prosecution is disclosing evidence and witness identities to the defence as required.
However, he argued that the six witnesses are crucial to the case, providing testimony that directly implicates the accused, and that there are credible threats to their safety.
The affidavit details that an alleged accomplice to the accused, identified as Frank Kihehere, threatened to harm one of the witnesses.
“The nature of the offences with which the accused persons are indicted are serious, grave in nature and also involve personal violence,” Kyomuhendo stated.
The prosecution is requesting the court’s permission to use pseudonyms for the witnesses, delay disclosure of their evidence, and redact any material that could reveal their identities.
Kyomuhendo said these measures are necessary because no formal security arrangements are currently in place for the witnesses.
He added that granting the application would not prejudice the accused, as redacted disclosures would still be provided to the defence.
The application was filed by the ODPP on March 2, 2026, and received by the High Court on March 11, 2026.
Besigye and his co-accused remain on remand at Luzira Upper Prison as the trial continues.
