The Kizza Besigye court walkout on Friday, May 23, escalated into a legal showdown after his defense team walked out, protesting the court’s decision to proceed without Kenyan senior lawyer Martha Karua. The defense accused Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege of denying them a fair trial.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who leads the legal team, insisted the trial could not proceed without Karua. She had been formally appointed to represent Besigye and his aide, Obeid Lutale. Security operatives abducted both men in Nairobi in November 2024 and brought them to Uganda.
“We cannot sit here and watch justice being mocked,” Lukwago told the court before walking out. He also questioned why the court reversed its earlier decision to reconvene on May 29, noting that they had only received notice on Thursday night.
Besigye spoke directly to the court, explaining that he could not represent himself in a case involving complex legal issues. He emphasized the importance of Karua’s presence for his defense.
Despite the protest, Magistrate Nantege ruled that the trial would move forward. She said the prosecution planned to amend the charges, and this process would continue regardless of Karua’s availability.
Chief State Attorney Richard Birivimbuka dismissed the protest. “This case won’t stop because of Martha Karua. If she intended to handle it, she should have arranged to remain in Uganda,” he said.
Birivimbuka criticized Karua’s previous courtroom submissions as irrelevant but later apologized. He also rejected the defense’s motion to move the case to the High Court, calling it unnecessary.
He addressed claims of mistreatment, stating the prosecution did not support unlawful arrests. However, he warned the defense about alleged threats made toward his family.
Defense lawyer Eron Kiiza called the session a “stage for repression.” He argued that continuing without proper legal representation violated Besigye’s constitutional rights and justified moving the case to the High Court.
Kiiza also revealed that some team members missed the session because they weren’t notified of the schedule change in time. He expressed concern over the presence of plainclothes security agents in court, describing them as “lurking like goons.”
Earlier that morning, tensions flared when suspected security operatives assaulted Besigye supporters. The altercation reportedly began over accusations of unauthorized photography.
Besigye, Lutale, and UPDF Captain Dennis Oola face terrorism-related charges for alleged crimes committed between 2023 and November 2024 across Uganda, Kenya, and Switzerland.
