A Ugandan court has denied bail to opposition figure Kizza Besigye, despite surpassing the country’s legal 180-day limit for detention without trial.
Besigye, a 69-year-old veteran opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate, was abducted in Kenya last November by armed men and later appeared before a military court in Uganda on treason charges—an offense that carries a potential death sentence.
Although his case was transferred to a civilian court in February after a hunger strike, lawmakers passed new legislation earlier this week allowing civilians to be tried in military courts, raising concerns over due process.
In Friday’s hearing, Magistrate Esther Nyadoi chose to review the prosecution’s case rather than rule on Besigye’s bail request. The decision led to a walkout by his legal team and supporters. “This is a case where our lives are at stake,” Besigye told the court, citing the absence of legal representation. The hearing was adjourned, with his detention extended until May 29.
Besigye was once a personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni but later became one of his fiercest political rivals. Museveni has held power in Uganda for nearly four decades.
The case has also drawn international attention. Earlier this week, Kenya’s foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that Kenyan authorities had cooperated with Uganda in Besigye’s cross-border apprehension. He defended the move, citing Uganda’s status as Kenya’s largest export market and stating Nairobi had no interest in straining regional relations. He declined to comment on the legality of the extradition, saying, “Kenya is not on trial.”