Reprieve for Besigye as Supreme Court bars military from trying civilians

Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale stand in a steel dock at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Uganda on December 2, 2024. 

Photo credit: Reuters

The Supreme Court in Kampala on Friday halted the trial of civilians before the General Court Martial, ostensibly saving four-time presidential candidate Col (rtd) Kizza Besigye and his co-accused from trial by a military that had kept them incarcerated for over two months. 

The court also ordered that the cases currently being handled by the court martial be transferred to civilian courts with competent jurisdiction.