This morning, the Makindye General Court Martial was thrust into chaos following the dramatic detention of vocal lawyer Eron Kiiza.
The incident occurred as the court convened to proceed with the trial of Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale.
Kiiza gained entry into the court premises but discovered that his designated seat on the defense bench had already been occupied. Shortly thereafter, an armed military officers approached him, barring him from joining the front bench of defense lawyers since there was no space there for him to occupy.
Kiiza resisted any attempts for a cordial talk causing militay officers to apply reasonable force to remove him after a physical altercation ensued.
The court, chaired by Brigadier General Freeman Mugabe, subsequently found Kiiza in contempt of court and he was detained at an undisclosed cell within the court premises.
The incident prompted strong reactions from fellow lawyers, including Erias Lukwago and lead counsel Martha Karua, who vehemently condemned the treatment of their colleague.
“This is an affront to justice. Our colleague was assaulted and denied the opportunity to represent his clients effectively,” Lukwago stated during his submission. Karua added that Kiiza’s removal undermined the integrity of the defense team.
However, Brigadier General Mugabe maintained that Kiiza’s conduct warranted disciplinary action. “His actions disrupted court proceedings and amounted to contempt of court,” the General asserted.
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