The Ugandan authorities are urged to release Kizza Besigye and his lawyer, Eron Kiiza, who are imprisoned despite the Supreme Court’s ruling against military trials for civilians. Authorities have not complied with this ruling, leading to concerns over human rights violations. Urgent action is required to uphold justice and release those unjustly detained under military rulings.
Ugandan authorities are urged to release Kizza Besigye, a former opposition presidential candidate, as his health has significantly declined due to a hunger strike in protest of his detention. Besigye’s lawyer indicated that his client’s condition worsened, particularly after the Ugandan Supreme Court mandated civilian trials for civilians on January 31, 2025. Despite the ruling, Besigye remains imprisoned following his abduction by Ugandan military personnel in November 2024, who filed charges against him in a military court.
On February 16, 2025, Besigye was hospitalized following his hunger strike, which lasted due to continued detention despite the Supreme Court’s directive. He was forcibly taken from Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequently held at Luzira maximum security prison in Kampala. Furthermore, Besigye’s lawyer, Eron Kiiza, was sentenced to nine months in prison for “contempt of court” after publicly criticizing the military, without benefiting from a fair trial or adequate legal defence.
Besigye and Kiiza are among numerous civilians detained under military court rulings. David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform, reported that at least 44 other civilians remain imprisoned following military trials, many stemming from the events surrounding the 2021 general elections.
Despite the rulings that declare military trials unconstitutional, the Ugandan authorities have yet to release Besigye or transfer the cases of other detained civilians to civilian courts. This ongoing detention contradicts Uganda’s legal obligations under international law, including rights to liberty, security, and fair trial as secured by various treaties to which Uganda subscribes.
Uganda’s actions not only contravene a recent Supreme Court ruling but also undermine human rights and the rule of law. In light of these developments, it is imperative that the Ugandan government respects legal standards by promptly releasing Besigye, Kiiza, and others unjustly detained, thereby honoring their rights and restoring judicial integrity.
The urgent call for the release of Kizza Besigye underscores the serious concerns regarding Uganda’s military trials of civilians, which have been deemed unconstitutional. The ongoing detention of Besigye, his lawyer, and numerous other civilians highlights a significant violation of human rights principles and legal standards under international law. It is essential for the Ugandan authorities to uphold justice and restore the rule of law by releasing those wrongfully imprisoned.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
