A Ugandan court refused to let prosecutors examine phone records of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and co-defendant Hajji Obeid Lutale. Chief Magistrate Christine Natenge said her court lost power over the case after sending it to a higher court. The ruling means investigators cannot access data from the suspects' mobile devices at the lower court level. State attorney Richard Birivumbuka had asked for permission to extract information from the phones. The case moved to High Court on May 29, which removed it from the magistrate's control.
Defense lawyers led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago called the prosecution's request improper. They argued the state broke legal procedures when trying to bring the case back to the lower court. Besigye and Lutale responded by filing a complaint against the magistrate with judicial authorities. The men remain locked up at Luzira Prison and will seek bail at High Court. Their lawyers plan to challenge the detention through the higher court system.
Prosecutors charge Besigye, Lutale and army officer Captain Dennis Oola with treason. The government claims they plotted to overthrow Uganda's leadership between 2023 and 2024. Court papers say the planning happened across multiple countries such as Switzerland, Greece, Kenya and Uganda. Officials accuse Besigye of working with foreign agents to plan attacks and obtain weapons. The state alleges he received money to train Ugandans for military action in Kenya. Authorities stopped the training group and sent them back to Uganda where they face separate terrorism charges.
Defense lawyers led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago called the prosecution's request improper. They argued the state broke legal procedures when trying to bring the case back to the lower court. Besigye and Lutale responded by filing a complaint against the magistrate with judicial authorities. The men remain locked up at Luzira Prison and will seek bail at High Court. Their lawyers plan to challenge the detention through the higher court system.
Prosecutors charge Besigye, Lutale and army officer Captain Dennis Oola with treason. The government claims they plotted to overthrow Uganda's leadership between 2023 and 2024. Court papers say the planning happened across multiple countries such as Switzerland, Greece, Kenya and Uganda. Officials accuse Besigye of working with foreign agents to plan attacks and obtain weapons. The state alleges he received money to train Ugandans for military action in Kenya. Authorities stopped the training group and sent them back to Uganda where they face separate terrorism charges.
