Besigye lawyers walk out of court over Karua absence
Lawyers representing veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye walks out of court in protest of ruling on Karua absence.
Lawyers representing veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye walks out of court in protest of ruling on Karua absence.
Tensions flared at a Ugandan court Friday as lawyers representing veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye staged a dramatic walkout.
The protest followed a ruling by the presiding magistrate that court proceedings could continue despite the absence of Besigye’s lead counsel, Martha Karua.
Karua, who has been representing Besigye, was a no-show when the case came up for hearing at the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s court.
The appearance of Besigye in court follows a production order issued May 22 by the magistrate.
Besigye is facing treason charges alongside two other suspects- Hajj Lutale and UPDF Captain Denis Oola.
According to the charge sheet, Besigye is accused of holding meetings in Switzerland, Greece and Kenya between 2023 and November last year in a plot to overturn the government.
He was also accused of soliciting military, financial and other logistical support to topple Museveni’s government.
“Our lawyers don’t have instructions from us to proceed in the absence of Martha Karua,” Besigye told the court.
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The State Prosecution, however, objected, arguing that the case could not be held hostage to Karua’s schedule, asserting that the available lawyers were sufficient to proceed.
“She never even told the court she is a resident of Nairobi,” the prosecutor said.
Efforts by the lawyers present for a call for adjournment failed as the magistrate insisted the trial proceed, citing no insufficient legal basis to delay the case.
In response, Besigye’s legal team walked out of the courtroom in a show of disapproval, describing the ruling as a violation of their client’s right to a fair trial and legal representation of his choosing.
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