Veteran politician, Dr Kiiza Besigye will appear before a civilian court today, Wednesday following intense pressure from the public .
The continued detention and health condition of Besigye has been a centre of debate in the past days.
Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale were arrested and faced the General Court Martial over alleged illegal possession of firearms.
However, in a hearing notice by the High Court registrar, Simon Kintu Zirintusa, the duo is set to appear before court today in the hearing of their case in which they challenge the continued detention despite a decision by the Supreme Court declaring the trial of civilians in military courts illegal.
According to the hearing notice the matter will be heard in Kampala at 9 a.m.
The decision to fix the hearing date comes amid growing calls for judicial action regarding the rights of civilians previously tried under the military court system.
The Supreme Court, in its decision on January 31, 2025, declared that civilians should not be subjected to military court trials, ordering that all such cases be transferred to civilian courts.
Additionally, the High Court has also set February 25, 2025, as the date to hear another case involving lawyer Eron Kiiza, one of the legal representatives for Besigye and Lutale.
Kiiza was arrested on January 7, 2025, and later convicted by the General Court Martial for contempt of court.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison but has since appealed the ruling, with his case pending before the General Court Martial Appeals Court.
The hearing notice addressed to Eron Kiiza the Attorney General, and the Commissioner General of Prisons (respondents) warns that the case will proceed even in the absence of any of the parties.
The unfolding legal battle comes amid a broader national conversation on judicial independence, human rights, and the role of military courts in Uganda’s justice system.
Today’s court proceedings are expected to set a significant precedent for similar cases involving civilians previously tried in military courts.
