Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye charged with treason

48 hours after his arrest, Uganda’s opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, has been charged with treason Friday evening by a Moroto court in the north-east of the country.

#Ugandan opposition leader Kizza #Besigye charged with treason and remanded in prison (Lawyers) pic.twitter.com/zuhqSSQMqq

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Besigye was arrested on Wednesday after he swore himself into office as president before party officials ahead of President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony.

His lawyer, Erias Lukwago, told AFP that the police informed them that the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change was sent to court and charged with treason.

“We were informed by the police today that Besigye appeared before the court in Moroto where he was charged with treason,” Lukwago said. According to local media, Besigye was charged before Moroto Chief Magistrate’s Court and remanded until May 25 when he will re-appear in court.

The Ugandan news website, monitor.co.ug, however stated that “Besigye was not allowed to take plea because treason is a capital offence only triable by the High Court.”

Dr Kizza Besigye has been arrested several times after the country’s disputed February 18 general election. He has insisted he won the election with 52 per cent votes, despite the official announcement that declared Museveni winner with 61 per cent votes.

Besigye won 35 per cent of the votes and declared the polls were rigged and will not approve Museveni’s presidency.