Veteran Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye failed to appear in court on Monday for the scheduled start of his long-running treason trial, citing health issues.
Kizza Besigye, 69, and his co-accused aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, submitted written notifications to the High Court in Kampala explaining their absence.
Kizza Besigye attributed his nonappearance to illness, while Lutale did not provide a specific reason, only stating that he was unable to attend.
As a result, only one of the three accused Captain Denis Oola was present in court for the expected commencement of the trial.
Justice Emmanuel Baguma read the letters aloud during the session. However, Besigye’s lead counsel, Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, said she had not been informed of the correspondence prior to the hearing.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Lino Anguzu, noted that the trial could not proceed in the absence of the accused unless the court decided otherwise. The session was adjourned to October 1.
A former close ally of President Yoweri Museveni turned leading political opponent, Besigye has faced numerous arrests and charges since he first challenged Museveni’s leadership in the 2001 elections.
He has been charged with treason multiple times, most notably in a high-profile 2005 case accusing him of attempting to overthrow the government. Health concerns have led to several delays in recent years across various legal proceedings.
While government officials maintain that Besigye must be held accountable under the law, his supporters argue the repeated charges are politically motivated attempts to sideline him.