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A key prosecution witness in the treason trial of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye delivered contradictory evidence under cross-examination this week, significantly bolstering the defence’s position.
Besigye, a prominent rival of President Yoweri Museveni, faces treason charges following his November 2024 arrest in Kenya.
The prosecution’s main witness, British-American self-described private investigator Orlando Wilson, initially alleged that he was recruited to acquire weapons—including drones and missiles—and train Besigye-linked individuals near the border to overthrow Museveni.
However, Wilson undermined his own testimony in court by claiming that Kenyan authorities planted two pistols discovered in a Nairobi apartment where he met Besigye.
Wilson further revealed that police accidentally deleted a secret video recording of the opposition leader. Defence attorneys argue that these admissions destroy the prosecution’s credibility.
Lawyer Martha Karua stated the revelations prove the charges are fabricated, while other defence members accused Wilson of orchestrating the plot alongside military intelligence.
The high-profile trial unfolds amidst severe state pressure on Besigye’s legal team.
Authorities declared Karua persona non grata in June, barring her from entering Uganda.
Meanwhile, Ugandan officials jailed co-counsel Erias Lukwago on charges of failing to report treason, and a third lawyer, Eron Kiiza, fled the country.
Kiiza characterised the proceedings as a political trial where the ultimate verdict will serve political rather than judicial ends.
