world
Uganda Court Declines to Halt Trial, Grants Time to Reorganize Defense
A High Court judge declined to suspend proceedings against a detained opposition politician but gave the defense until July 2 to arrange new legal representation. The defense cited the deportation of one lawyer and the arrest of another as reasons for delay.
winnipegfreepress.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
A High Court judge in Kampala declined to halt criminal proceedings against detained opposition politician Kizza Besigye but granted the defense until July 2 to reorganize its legal team. Besigye and co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale appeared in the High Court Criminal Division on Tuesday under heavy security.
The pair declined to enter pleas after their lawyers reported that Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua had been deported upon arrival and that lawyer Erias Lukwago had been arrested while serving court documents.
Defense lawyer Moses KB Tugume told the court that only 10 of nearly 50 advocates from 13 law firms attended the hearing. Lawyer Bayern Turinawe stated that team members feared for their safety and that some had considered boycotting the session. Besigye addressed the court directly, saying the reported actions against his lawyers left him uncertain about representation.
The defense asked the judge to stay proceedings pending a separate human rights application filed against the Chief of Defence Forces.
Natuhwera opposed any delay, arguing there was no legal basis to stop the trial over the absence of one or two lawyers. Justice Baguma declined to halt the main case but set a July 2 deadline for the defense to secure representation. m. the same day.
The defense separately seeks to nullify the government's decision declaring Martha Karua a persona non grata and to restrain authorities from prosecuting Erias Lukwago.
