Kampala — Prominent opposition leaders in Uganda have called for the unconditional release of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, condemning their trial in military courts as an illegal and politically motivated act designed to silence government critics.
During a joint press briefing held at Parliament today, leaders from various opposition parties, including Robert Kyagulanyi (National Unity Platform), Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation), Ken Lukyamuzi (Conservative Party), Kibirige Mayanja (Justice Forum), Sadam Gayiira (People’s Progressive Party), and Elias Lukwago, expressed solidarity against what they described as state-sanctioned persecution.
“Military Court is not a legitimate court”
Erias Lukwago, a lawyer representing Dr. Besigye, emphasized that military courts have no jurisdiction over civilians and called their usage unconstitutional.
“It is a disciplinary committee, at best a tribunal, but not a court within the meaning of the law,” Lukwago stated. “By continuing to call it a court, we are sanitizing it. It is high time we came out assertively and aggressively to say enough is enough.”
Lukwago Erias
Unity against persecution
Joel Ssenyonyi, a spokesperson for the National Unity Platform, condemned the military courts as tools of oppression used to stifle opposition voices.
“This is the State using military courts to persecute opposition supporters. We stand here in solidarity to say no to this illegality and to condemn it,” Ssenyonyi said.
Joel Ssenyonyi
Winnie Kiiza, former Leader of the Opposition, criticized the government for undermining democratic institutions and targeting opposition leaders.
“An attack on any member of the Opposition is an attack on all of us,” Kiiza said. “The President has muzzled state institutions, and this jeopardizes the nation’s stability.”
Winnie Kiiza
Opposition’s call to action
The leaders urged Ugandans and the international community to join them in condemning what they termed as a misuse of state machinery to intimidate political opponents. They reiterated their commitment to unity in the face of oppression.
The arrests of Besigye and Lutale have drawn widespread criticism from human rights activists and international observers, who argue that military trials for civilians contravene Uganda’s Constitution and international legal norms.
The opposition leaders concluded the press briefing with a united call for the government to respect the rule of law and end its alleged persecution of political opponents.
Torch Media Africa
