Human rights lobbies have demanded the immediate release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besiigye and others held on directions of the General Court Martial.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, the organisations condemned the militarization of justice in Uganda, noting that Besigye’s continued detention is a violation of international human rights law.
“We call on the Ugandan authorities to respect the Supreme Court decision and immediately free Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Lawyer Eron Kiiza and others unlawfully detained,” they said.
On January 31, the Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that the trial of civilians before military courts in criminal cases is unconstitutional adding that such cases should be transferred to ordinary courts.
The lobbies include Amnesty International, the Centre for Strategic Litigation (CSL), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Others are the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Pan African Lawyers Association (PALU), Mwanzo org., East Africa Law Society, Vocal Africa and Change Tanzania Movement.
The lobbies also called for immediate action to prevent any grave harm, or loss of life of Besigye, Lutale, Kiiza and all other civilians detained.
They underscored the need to review all cases of civilians on trial in the General Court Martial and immediately cease prosecution.
They said the exercise should be prompt, thorough, impartial, effective, independent and transparent.
“Investigate death threats against Besigye by President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the chief of defence forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, and take urgent action to protect his right to life,” the lobbies added.
At the same time, the organisation called on Kenyan authorities to acknowledge the wave of abductions, investigate the same and prosecute those who are suspected to be behind the actions.
They also urged the government to end abductions and commit to taking effective measures to guarantee non-repetition.
Besigye and Lutale were allegedly abduction in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, and resurfaced in Uganda.
