Imprisoned veteran politician Col Dr. Kizza Besigye, has sued the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, over alleged prejudicial public statements he made last year, following his arrest in Kenya over an alleged plot to overthrow his father, President Yoweri Museveni.
Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale, who are facing treason charges before the High Court, have filed a fresh application before the High Court Criminal Division seeking the termination of criminal proceedings against them in the case.
In the application, filed as Miscellaneous Application No. 922 of 2026 arising from Criminal Session Case No. 335 of 2025, the duo alleges grave violations of their constitutional rights, including unlawful abduction, torture, prolonged detention, and several prejudicial public statements following their arrest in Nairobi Kenya.
The case file names Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Col. Peter Ahimbisibwe, and Lt. Col. Ephraim Byaruhanga, described as UPDF officers allegedly involved in an operation in Kenya as respondents, alongside the Attorney General.
The duo, through their lawyers argue that the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention, and prosecution have irreparably compromised their right to a fair trial, and are seeking several declarations, including a finding that their alleged abduction from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, by Ugandan military officers was unlawful and that it renders subsequent criminal proceedings legally impermissible.
They further contend that their detention at Makindye Military Barracks before being produced in court, violated constitutional protections against arbitrary detention and torture.
Court documents further cite several posts allegedly made on social media platform X, including one dated January 16, 2025, stating: “We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die.”
Another post dated February 19, 2026, allegedly stated: “Besigye wanted to kill Mzee, so as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking.”
A further post allegedly made in April 2026 is cited as saying: “I think we might hang Besigye by next month. If we don’t hang him, we will shoot him dead. That will be a great day for Uganda.”
Other statements referenced in the application include remarks that Besigye would leave prison “only in his coffin after we hang him or shoot him” or after apologising to President Museveni, and that he would not be released until subjected to “the full extent of martial law.”
However, by the time of this publication, the Attorney General and other respondents had not yet filed responses to the application according to records on the Judiciary’s Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
