By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
KAMPALA
The Makindye Court Martial experienced dramatic scenes during the trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Lutale Obeid, as defense lawyer Eron Kiiza was forcibly removed by military police and subsequently sentenced to nine months in Kitalya Maximum Prison for contempt of court.
The commotion began when Kiiza attempted to join his fellow lawyers at the defense table to consult with his clients. A military police officer blocked his access, leading to a heated exchange.
“Why are you stopping me from sitting at the table with my fellow lawyers to defend my client?” Kiiza protested before forcing his way through. However, he was swiftly lifted out of the dock and detained in a court cell.
“I was simply trying to fulfill my duty as a lawyer,” Kiiza said before his removal, decrying what many called an infringement on the defense team’s rights.
The session was briefly adjourned by Brig. Gen. Freeman Robert Mugabe, the chairman of the court martial, to restore calm. When proceedings resumed, Col. Raphael Mugisha, the lead prosecutor, argued that only lawyers from AF Mpanga Advocates—Fredrick Mpanga, Apollo Katumba, and Ernest Kalibala—were officially instructed to represent Besigye and Lutale. Court advisor Brig. Richard Tukacungura emphasized the requirement for valid Uganda Law Society (ULS) certificates for lawyers to represent the accused.
“Only lawyers who can present updated ULS certificates are permitted to defend the accused. Without these, their participation is invalid,” Tukacungura stated.
John Vianney Ayebare, a member of Besigye’s defense team, told our reporter that after the mishandling of their colleague Eron, the legal team for the accused could not proceed since he was assigned key tasks to submit. An adjournment was sought to consult the accused persons.
When the tribunal resumed, the defense team informed the bench that they had instructions not to proceed without Counsel Eron since he was central to their case. The chairman of the tribunal said the matter of Eron would be handled after Besigye’s. The team did not accept that proposition, arguing that Eron’s case should be resolved first so he could rejoin the team. Consequently, Besigye’s case was adjourned to Monday, January 13th.
John Vianney said they are not happy with how the General court martial is handling the case playing monkey tricks to keep their clients in jail and he said it’s the reason they want the case removed from the cangaroo court.
