The trial judge in the treason case against Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale, Justice Emmanuel Baguma, has adjourned the commencement of their treason trial to June 30th after both accused failing to appear before the High Court on Thursday.
On Thursday, Prisons authorities only presented their co-accused Captain Denish Oola Ooya, in the session where the state is set to present its first witness against the opposition figures that was scheduled to begin at 11 am.
After waiting for hours without their clients being presented before court, the lead defence lawyer Counsel Martha Karua informed Justice Baguma, that the defence team had visited the holding cells and confirms that both Dr. Besigye and Obeid Lutale had not been brought to court.
Ms Karua further reminded Justice Baguma, that the trial couldn’t proceed with the accused’s presence in the court.
Another defence lawyer Eron Kiiza, also told court that the Prisons authorities refused to comply with the recent court orders, and have frustrated their engagements with their clients.
On Wednesday, Dr. Besigye’s legal team was denied entry of evidence material into Luzira Prisons for review with both of the accused.
This is after the Prison authorities cited that the court order only granted exclusive access of the accused on weekends and public holidays.
ASP Emmanuel Hiire, who led the prisons authorities confirmed to court, that the accused were not in court citing pending issues between them and their lawyers.
After listening to the concerns raised by the defence lawyers, Justice Baguma guided that court cannot proceed without the other accused persons in court and ordered for a production warrant for June 30th, for both of the accused to enable commencing of the trial.
Recently Dr Besigye and Hajji Obeid filed a fresh application before the High Court Criminal Division seeking the termination of criminal proceedings against them in the case.
