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A Ugandan court has denied bail to jailed opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose detention since late last year has drawn international condemnation.
Besigye, 69, a four-time presidential challenger to long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, was abducted in Kenya in November 2024 and later charged with treason, an offence that carries the death penalty.
Rights groups have denounced both the charges and his continued imprisonment, calling them politically motivated ahead of Uganda’s January elections, in which Museveni, 80, is expected to seek another term.
In an emailed ruling on Friday, Judge Emmanuel Baguma rejected bail applications for Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale.
He said the pair had been on remand only since February 21, when the charges were formally read, meaning they had not yet reached the mandatory 180-day period in custody required for release.
The defence argued that the countdown should begin from their initial detention in November, but this was dismissed by the court.
Baguma ordered that Besigye’s case be prioritised for a full hearing rather than further bail applications.
The decision drew sharp criticism from his legal team, with lawyer Erias Lukwago calling the ruling “absurd” and a “miscarriage of justice.”
Another lawyer, Eron Kiiza, said he was unsurprised, claiming there had been “a total breakdown in the constitutional order” in Uganda.
Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, has accused the government of holding him for political reasons and subjecting him to “inhumane” conditions.
The veteran opposition figure appeared frail during a February court appearance after a brief hospitalisation.
His case was initially brought before a military court but later moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to try civilians in military tribunals.
However, Museveni has since signed legislation allowing military trials for civilians under “exceptional circumstances.”
