KAMPALA– On Thursday, Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye with his co accused on Treason charges, Hajji Obeid Lutale formally applied for bail before High court Criminal Division.
The duo who were charged last week charged with treason by Nakawa Magistrates Court alongside Captain Dennis Oola , have listed a number of grounds which they want court consider in granting them their temporary freedom pending their trial.
“The 1st Applicant (Besigye) and the 2nd Applicant (Kamulegeya ) are responsible citizens of Uganda who have permanent places of abode at Buyinja LC1 Wampeewo Ward Kasangati Town Council Wakiso District and Rwakabengo A Rwakabengo Ward Southern Division Rukungiri Municipality in Rukungiri District for the 1st Applicant and Kisigula Village Cell Mutundwe Ward Gombolola Ssabagabo Makindye Wakiso District for the 2nd Applicant.” Reads part of the application filed in the Court Registry
That the offences which they are charged with are bailable by the High Court , they are not a threat to ongoing investigations and that they have substantial surgeries who will ensure that they turn up for court wherever they are required to do so.
“The Applicants have not been committed to the High Court for trial and are willing to comply with all reasonable conditions set for their admittance to bail.”
The application has been accompanied by affidavits in support. In his affidavit, Besigye has committed to respect all terms which court may deem necessary while granting them bail.
“ THAT, I am a former Presidential Candidate in the 2001, 2006,2011 and 2016 General Elections. I am also a retired Colonel in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces and participated in the 1981-1986 Bush War as a member of the National Resistance Army. I am also a former Minister of State for internal Affairs, former National Political Commissar, former Commandant Masaka Mechanized Regiment and a delegate in the Constituent Assembly that debated the draft Constitution of Uganda which was eventually promulgated in September 1995.” reads part of Besigye’s affidavit
That he has been the President of the Forum for Democratic Change and currently are a member of the Peoples Front for Freedom, a new political party under formation.
“lam a responsible citizen of Uganda, who has always advocated for and pursued peaceful and wholly non-violent means to ensure that Uganda is governed in accordance with the law and the Constitutional dictates. As a citizen of Uganda, I am entitled to enjoy all rights accorded to citizens as well as participate in all lawful activities as an individual, and as a leader, including within the political formation to which I belong and to whose ideology I subscribe.”
He further added that, like any other citizen, I enjoy a constitutional presumption of innocence and therefore not being a convict, it is in the interests of justice that I be admitted to bail.
Additionally, he has attached proof that on several occasions been released on bail and he has been responding positively to the court directives.
High court anytime from now is expected to fix a date for bail hearing.
Last week, On 21st February 2025 the Applicants were charged with treason and misprision of Treason at the Chief Magistrates Court of Nakawa at Nakawa and remanded them to Luzira Prison.
Prosecution contends that, Col (Rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale, Captain Dennis Oola and others still at large between the year 2023 and November 2024 at various places including Geneva in Switzerland, Athens in Greece, Nairobi in Kenya, Kampala in Uganda, knowing that another person intended to commit treason, did not give information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to the Minister, an administrative officer, a Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police Station or use all reasonable endeavors to prevent the commission of the treason.
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