Former presidential candidate and opposition icon Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye Kifefe is at the center of a renewed legal storm after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) unveiled a heavily amended charge sheet, formally accusing him of treason, misprision of treason, and abetment of treason.
The state outlines a detailed account of seven overt acts allegedly committed between October 2023 and November 2024, involving foreign travel, secret meetings, financial transactions, and social media communications , all pointing to an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms.
Count 1: Treason
The prosecution claims that Dr. Besigye participated in a series of high-level secret meetings in different international locations where plans to oust the current government were allegedly discussed:
On 29 October 2023 , Besigye allegedly travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, where he attended a meeting discussing a plot to overthrow the Ugandan government.
On 24 January 2024 , he reportedly returned to Geneva for another meeting with similar objectives.
On 14 June 2024, a third meeting is said to have taken place again in Geneva with the same agenda.
Similarly on September 2024 , Besigye allegedly travelled to Athens, Greece, and attended a meeting plotting the government’s downfall.
The State further alleges that on October 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, he and Hajji Obeid Lutale are accused of convening a gathering to advance the same agenda.
The prosecution further alleges that between 14 June and 24 July 2024, Dr. Besigye solicited and received USD 5,000 to facilitate a group of 36 individuals to travel from Uganda to Kisumu, Kenya, for training “in furtherance of the plot.”
Also between 29 October and 16 November 2024, Dr. Besigye, along with RO/12743 Capt. Denis Oola, allegedly made various utterances on WhatsApp expressing intentions to overthrow the government.
Count 2: Misprision of Treason
Under this count, Dr. Besigye is accused of knowing about plans of treason by others, specifically Joel Wakhaima and Frank Kihehere Atukunda, but failing to report this knowledge to the authorities as required by law.
Count 3: Abetment of Treason
The charge stems from events that allegedly occurred across Geneva, Athens, Nairobi, and Kampala during the same timeframe. The prosecution claims that despite being aware of treasonous intentions, Dr. Besigye did not notify the Minister, a magistrate, police officer, or any responsible authority, thereby violating Section 25 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
Legal analysts say treason charges in Uganda are extremely serious, carrying life imprisonment or death as potential sentences. The charge of misprision of treason is also a criminal offence, punishable by up to seven years in prison for failing to report treasonous activity.
Dr. Besigye has not yet entered a plea on these new charges. His lawyers have previously described similar cases as politically motivated attempts to cripple opposition more.