National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has condemned the High Court’s decision to deny bail to opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale, who have spent more than 260 days in detention without trial.
In a statement, Kyagulanyi faulted the presiding judge for counting their custody only from February 2025, when they were charged in civilian courts, while ignoring the months they spent in detention under what he described as a “kangaroo military court.”
“The citizens are then left wondering what the difference is between the military courts and civilian courts,” Kyagulanyi said.
He accused the judiciary of relying on “legal formalism” to deny justice. He warned that prioritizing procedural technicalities over fairness erodes public trust in the judiciary.
Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, and Lutale face treason and misprision of treason charges, whose details the court has not publicly clarified in recent months.
Their detention has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and human rights advocates.
On Friday, Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court in Kampala rejected their application for mandatory bail, ruling that the charges’ gravity warranted continued detention despite arguments that they had exceeded the 180-day legal limit for pre-trial remand without committal.
“The seriousness of the charges of treason and misprision of treason cannot be taken lightly,” Justice Baguma said. “
“This court is not persuaded that the applicants ought to be released at this stage when investigations are still ongoing and the nature of the case poses a potential threat to national security.”
Besigye and Lutale were arrested in Nairobi in November 2024 and later charged in Uganda.
They first appeared before the General Court Martial before their case was transferred to civilian courts, following a 2025 Supreme Court decision barring the trial of civilians in military courts.
In their affidavits, Besigye, a former army officer, and Lutale argued that their age, clean records, and compliance with previous bail conditions made them suitable candidates for release.
However, Justice Baguma said that while the pair enjoy the presumption of innocence, the court retains discretion to deny bail where the interests of justice, public safety, and the gravity of the charges demand it.
“This application is accordingly dismissed,” the judge ruled.