Besigye Treason Trial Adjourned to July 29 as State Lawyer Seeks Time to Submit CV

KAMPALA, Uganda — The High Court has adjourned the treason trial of opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, to July 29, 2026, after one of the lawyers proposed under the State Brief Scheme requested more time to submit his curriculum vitae (CV).

The lawyer, Julius Sserwambala, asked for a two-week adjournment to provide his CV and details of his criminal law experience, allowing Besigye and Lutale to assess his suitability before deciding whether to accept state-funded legal representation.

The three lawyers proposed under the State Brief Scheme are Sarah Awero, Julius Sserwambala and Sylvia Namawejje.

Awero previously represented murder convict Okello Onyum, who was sentenced to death. Sserwambala, meanwhile, represented Johnson Lubega and Nassif Kalyango in the murder trial of Maria Nagirinya. Both Lubega and Kalyango were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Besigye, Lutale Asked to Choose From 786 State Lawyers

Criminal Division Judge Emmanuel Baguma previously directed Besigye and Lutale to select legal representation from a list of 786 advocates accredited to provide legal aid under Uganda’s State Brief Scheme.

During the latest proceedings, Sserwambala asked for two weeks to submit his professional profile and criminal law record to help the accused assess his experience.

Besigye supported the request, telling court that his detention at Luzira Prison had made it difficult for him to consult potential lawyers because of restrictions on communication and movement.

Justice Baguma granted the adjournment after finding the request reasonable, particularly because the prosecution had completed the disclosure of evidence.

The judge directed Besigye and Lutale to use the two-week period to consider the lawyers available under the State Brief Scheme.

He also ordered Luzira Prison authorities to facilitate meetings between the accused and prospective lawyers and directed the three advocates proposed by the registrar to submit their CVs for transmission to the accused.

Prosecution Completes Evidence Disclosure

The adjournment followed confirmation by the prosecution that it had complied with an earlier court order to disclose all evidence it intends to rely on during the treason trial.

The prosecution team is led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko and Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka.

The disclosed material includes witness statements from investigating officers, documentary exhibits and electronic evidence.

Besigye and Lutale acknowledged receiving the material and signed the disclosure documents in court.

Completion of disclosure marks a significant procedural stage in criminal proceedings, allowing the defence to examine the prosecution’s case before witnesses begin testifying.

With the disclosure process completed, the main unresolved issue is now the legal representation of the accused.

Besigye Wants More Information About State Lawyers

Besigye told the court that the list of 786 advocates had only been delivered to him on Tuesday evening, leaving him with insufficient time to make an informed decision.

He said the list contained basic details such as the lawyers’ names, year of enrolment, areas of practice and telephone contacts, but did not provide sufficient information about their experience in handling complex criminal cases.

According to Besigye, the charges involve allegations spanning four countries and are expected to rely heavily on technical electronic evidence.

He argued that the defence should therefore be allowed to assess the competence and experience of any lawyer before making a final selection.

Besigye and Lutale have also maintained that they prefer to be represented by their original legal team, led by Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

They say their preferred lawyers withdrew from the proceedings because of security concerns.

Besigye also reminded the court about a pending application concerning the alleged security threats and asked for an update on its status.

Justice Baguma clarified that the application was not before him but directed the court registrar to provide the accused with an update.

Judge Orders Protection of Disclosure Materials

The judge further directed prison authorities not to interfere with the evidence disclosure materials served on the accused.

The order followed Besigye’s concern that the documents could be confiscated while he remained in custody.

Besigye also raised concerns about public statements allegedly made by President Yoweri Museveni regarding the case.

Justice Baguma advised him to raise the issue through a formal application if he wanted the court to consider it.

Besigye Questions Need for State-Funded Lawyers

Besigye also questioned why the government should pay for his legal representation, arguing that he and Lutale were financially capable of hiring lawyers of their own choosing.

He said taxpayers should not be required to bear the cost of their defence.

However, under Uganda’s State Brief Scheme, courts may appoint lawyers at government expense for accused persons facing serious criminal charges who are not represented by counsel.

The Constitution also guarantees an accused person the right to legal representation of their own choice, an issue that has become central to the proceedings following the disruption of Besigye’s original defence team.

What Are Besigye and Lutale Accused Of?

Besigye, Lutale and Capt Denis Oola face treason charges over allegations that they plotted to overthrow the Ugandan government.

According to the prosecution, the accused held meetings in Kampala, Nairobi, Geneva and Athens to solicit funding, acquire weapons and organise paramilitary activities.

Prosecutors further allege that Besigye met a Kurdish intelligence operative identified as Andrew Wilson and received $5,000 to facilitate the transportation of 36 Ugandans to Kisumu, Kenya, for military training.

The alleged recruits were reportedly intercepted and deported before the training could begin.

The prosecution also alleges that Besigye sought to acquire surface-to-air missiles, ricin poison and counterfeit currency, and planned to use drone technology to assassinate President Museveni.

The state says it intends to rely on witness testimony, audio and video recordings, social media communications, immigration records and telephone data as evidence.

The treason case will return to the High Court on July 29, 2026, when Besigye and Lutale are expected to indicate whether they have selected legal representation under Uganda’s State Brief Scheme.