Ugandan military prosecutors have added a charge of “treachery” to the list of allegations against prominent opposition figure Kiiza Besigye, a charge that carries the death penalty.
Besigye, a longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was detained in Kenya in November and brought back to Uganda, where he’s been held in prison along with his aide, Obeid Lutale.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, has denounced the charges as politically motivated, while his lawyers argue they’re baseless.
The new charge of treachery alleges that Besigye and Lutale withheld vital information about a plot to undermine national security from the proper authorities.
During Monday’s court hearing, Besigye’s lawyers protested the additional charge, citing violations of criminal trial procedures.
They also condemned the detention of human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza, part of Besigye’s defense team, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for alleged contempt of court.
Amnesty International has described Kiiza’s detention and sentence as “outrageous,” demanding his release.
Besigye’s case has sparked concerns about the Ugandan government’s human rights record, with accusations of widespread abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention.
