Uganda: Besigye re-appears in court for fresh treason charges

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye re-appeared in court on Wednesday under tight security after his case file was transferred from Moroto Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

#Uganda opposition leader Kizza #Besigye being driven away from Court this morning having been charged with treason. pic.twitter.com/CxW3D6zFor

— Ahmed Mohamed (@asmali77) May 18, 2016

Dr. Besigye was arraigned before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court where he was charged afresh for treason before remanded to Luzira Prison until June 1.

TREASON: This is #Uganda opposition leader #Besigye's charge sheet. He is now in Luzira prison via FDCOfficial1 pic.twitter.com/G4fFhNvrn5

— Louis Jadwong (Jadwong) May 16, 2016

Besigye was arrested and charged with treason last week before he was remanded at Moroto Government Prison until May 25, only to be transferred to Luzira Prison on Monday.

This is the second time that Besigye is charged with treason. The first trial in 2005 was dropped. If found guilty of the offence, the penalty is death or life imprisonment.

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.