National Unity Platform (NUP) lawyer and Kira Municipality Member of Parliament aspirant, George Musisi, has sharply criticised the judicial handling of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye’s detention, calling it politically motivated and inconsistent with the principles of the rule of law.
Speaking during NBS Barometer on Tuesday, Musisi said, “Even if they bring in 10 judges, that doesn’t stop someone from seeking bail.” He further emphasised that the Besigye case is fundamentally political and has been mishandled by the judiciary.
“Dr. Kizza Besigye is a major political player in Uganda, and his contributions cannot be undermined. If you say the Kizza Besigye case should be addressed politically rather than legally, you are implying that we don’t have the rule of law in the country,” he said.
The statements come amid ongoing controversy over the detention of Besigye and his associate Lutale, who have spent a full year in custody. They were abducted in Nairobi on 16 November 2024 and transferred to Kampala, where they were arraigned before the General Court Martial.
As of 16 October 2025, both have spent 365 days in detention amid stalled investigations, contested bail hearings, and allegations of judicial interference.
Besigye and Lutale face charges in the military court relating to national security and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Both remain at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, where multiple court proceedings over the past year have produced minimal progress toward trial.
In April 2025, High Court Justice Rosette Comfort Kania rejected their first formal bail application, despite acknowledging that the legal threshold for release had been met.
The application highlighted Besigye’s age (68), deteriorating health, and prolonged pre-trial detention exceeding 150 days.
Justice Kania cited the duo’s high standing in society and the gravity of the treason charges as risks to ongoing investigations, sparking immediate criticism from constitutional lawyers.
The defence subsequently filed a mandatory bail application in May 2025 before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court, citing the constitutional limit of 180 days for pre-trial detention in capital offences.
The Chief Magistrate ruled she lacked jurisdiction, deferring the matter to the High Court.
The case was then brought before Justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division of the High Court. On 8 August 2025, Justice Baguma dismissed the mandatory bail application, asserting that the 180-day countdown began only when the accused were formally charged with treason on 21 February 2025—a claim disputed by the defence, who argue that lawful remand began in November 2024. A renewed bail petition remains pending, with the defence calling for the judge’s recusal over alleged bias.
The anniversary of Besigye’s detention has reignited debates over Uganda’s political freedoms, judicial independence, and the treatment of opposition leaders.
Besigye’s confrontations with state authorities span more than two decades, including previous treason charges in 2005, arrests during the 2011 Walk-to-Work protests, and restrictions on his political activities during election cycles.
Despite stepping back from presidential contests after 2016, Besigye remains a central figure in opposition mobilisation. Analysts warn that his prolonged detention could have far-reaching consequences for Uganda’s political landscape as the country prepares for its next electoral cycle.