Jailed Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye on Monday refused to attend the start of his treason trial, with his lawyer alleging the presiding judge was biased.
Besigye’s months-long detention has shone a spotlight on President Yoweri Museveni’s human rights record ahead of polls early next year in which Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election.
The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes.
The trial of Besigye and his aide, Obed Lutale, was supposed to start on Monday after months of delays, but both defendants decided to boycott the proceedings after the judge, Emmanuel Baguma, refused to recuse himself, their attorney Eron Kiiza told Reuters.
‘Incapable Of Delivering Justice’
Besigye’s attorneys cited Baguma’s decision to deny Besigye bail as the basis for the accusations of bias.
Judiciary spokesperson James Ereemye Mawanda said there was no justification for the bias accusations and confirmed that Baguma had refused to recuse himself. Judge Baguma could not be reached immediately.
“Besigye and Lutale took a decision never to appear before Judge Baguma,” attorney Kiiza said.
“He is incapable of delivering justice with fairness and impartiality as required by the constitution and logic,” Kiiza added.
A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against Museveni in four elections. He has not indicated whether he wants to run again.
Charges Denied
Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year and returned to Uganda where both him and his aide were subsequently charged with treason and other offences, initially in a military tribunal before the case was transferred to a civilian court.
He denies the charges.
In August, his lawyers had argued that he should have been automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting.
However, Judge Baguma had said the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail was granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he fell short by 12 days in order to secure bail.
(With inputs from Reuters)
