The High Court in Kampala has given Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba one week to respond to an application filed by jailed opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye over alleged death threats and prejudicial public statements.
Justice Emmanuel Baguma issued the directive on Thursday. He ordered Gen Muhoozi, the Attorney General, Col Peter Ahibisibwe and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga to file their responses by June 18.
“The respondent (Gen. Muhoozi), take note, is given one week to file a reply by June 18,” Justice Baguma directed.
The judge also ordered Dr Besigye’s lawyers to file any rejoinder by June 25. He then set June 30 as the hearing date.
“…Then hearing will be on June 30,” Justice Baguma held.
Besigye’s lawyers seek written orders
During the court session, one of Dr Besigye’s lawyers, Eron Kiiza, asked for written orders. He said the orders would help the legal team serve court documents on the respondents.
“I have fixed this matter for hearing,” the judge replied before leaving the courtroom.
Some of Dr Besigye’s supporters, who had packed the courtroom, appeared unhappy with the response. They broke into songs criticising the presiding judge.
“Twamuganye Baguma Twamuganye, Twamuganye Baguma Twamuganye…literally meaning, we have refused justice Baguma, we have refused him.” they chanted.
Application cites alleged social media posts
Dr Besigye and his co-applicant, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, filed the application on Monday before the Criminal Division of the High Court.
The two are currently facing treason-related charges before the High Court.
In the application, Dr Besigye accuses Gen Muhoozi, who is also President Museveni’s son, of using his X account to issue threats and comment on his guilt before court proceedings conclude.
Dr Besigye says the alleged statements interfere with his constitutional rights. He also argues that they undermine his right to a fair hearing before an independent and impartial court.
“The 1st respondent’s adverse and prejudicial public statements threatening death, violence, torture and execution, and characterising the 1st applicant as a criminal, individually and cumulatively, give rise to violations of, and continuing threats to, human rights and freedoms,” the application states.
The former four-time presidential candidate also says public comments by a senior military officer could prejudice the trial.
“Public pronouncements of guilt, and of a predetermined fatal outcome, made by such a figure while assessors are yet to be empanelled and witnesses heard, contaminate the atmosphere of an independent and impartial court and pressure the trial court,” the court documents add.
Among the posts cited is one allegedly published on January 16, 2025. It stated: “We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die.”
Another post, allegedly made on February 19, 2026, reportedly stated: “Besigye wanted to kill Mzee, so as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking.”
A third post allegedly suggested that Dr Besigye could either be hanged or shot.
Nairobi arrest allegations raised
Dr Besigye wants court to declare that Gen Muhoozi’s alleged statements violated his constitutional rights.
He also seeks declarations that the treason and misprision of treason charges against him violate fair trial principles, human rights, the rule of law and extradition law.
The application also challenges the circumstances surrounding his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024.
According to court filings, Dr Besigye and Mr Lutale had travelled to Nairobi for a book launch hosted by Kenyan opposition politician and former Justice minister Martha Karua.
They claim Ugandan security operatives abducted them and transferred them to Uganda without formal extradition proceedings.
The applicants further allege that authorities detained them at Makindye Military Barracks after they arrived in Uganda. They say they were denied access to lawyers, family members and medical personnel.
The Attorney General, Gen Muhoozi and the two UPDF officers have not yet filed their responses to the allegations.
The case will return to court on June 30 for hearing.