A political storm is brewing within the opposition as members of the breakaway Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction and a section of legislators, who have come out guns blazing against Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, accusing him of scheming to justify the continued military prosecution of opposition stalwart Dr. Kizza Besigye.
During a press conference at the Katonga faction headquarters on Wednesday, top party officials, led by party chairperson Wasswa Birigwa, claimed they had obtained “reliable information” that the upcoming Supreme Court ruling in the Michael Kabaziguruka vs Attorney General case was deliberately timed to pave the way for Besigye’s trial in the General Court Martial.
Birigwa did outlined what he called a well-orchestrated judicial conspiracy.
“We have been informed that the judgment in the Kabaziguruka case is part of a grand plan. It is being released at this time to provide legal cover for the military to continue persecuting Dr. Besigye and others like Hajji Obed Lutale by denying them their constitutional right to have their case heard in a civilian court,” Birigwa charged.
According to the opposition leaders, the court-martial had allegedly gone a step further by “injecting fresh charges” into the case, some of which had no relevance to the original accusations.
“They are creating a scenario where they can now sneak in the names of Dr. Besigye and Hajji Rutale into this judgment and use it as a precedent to sustain their trial in a military court,” he added.
Birigwa further alleged that the court recently introduced a new character into the case, a soldier who was allegedly linked to a plot to overthrow the government.
“This so-called soldier was never abducted from Nairobi like Besigye and Lutale. He was never in Geneva, Greece, or any of the places where they claim Besigye was plotting a coup. This is pure fabrication!” Birigwa fumed.
Buhweju County MP Francis Mwijukye did not hold back, warning the Chief Justice that history would judge him harshly.
“We are sending a very clear warning to Chief Justice Dollo: This is an embarrassment to the judiciary. If you allow yourself to be used to give legal cover for the continued prosecution of an innocent man, his blood will be on your hands!” Mwijukye thundered.
The MP further described the timing of the Supreme Court ruling as “too suspicious to be a coincidence”, arguing that it was aimed at endorsing a controversial legal doctrine, that civilians collaborating with security personnel could be prosecuted in a military court.
“What they are doing is a disgrace! Even in banana republics, you don’t see Supreme Courts being used like this,” he added.
Adding to the explosive accusations, FDC’s Dr. Kamara claimed that the ruling to be delivered on Friday, January 31st, was nothing more than a pre-written script.
“We already know what the ruling says. There are deliberate gaps left in the judgment so that the court-martial can conveniently fill them in with Besigye’s case,” Dr. Kamara alleged.
He further suggested that the ruling would attempt to make a distinction between ordinary civilians—who cannot be tried in a military court—and those who allegedly collaborate with the army, who could face court-martial proceedings.
“You see how this is being choreographed? They will claim that Besigye was working with a serving soldier, Captain Ola, to justify his trial in the court-martial. But even Captain Ola himself had to retire before being charged. It’s all a staged performance!” Kamara fumed.
MP for Bukonjo West Atkins Katushabe suggested that Chief Justice Dollo did not even write the judgment he is about to read, but was instead handed a pre-determined ruling at a secret hotel meeting.
“I don’t want to believe that the Chief Justice is about to stand before the nation and read a script that was handed to him on Monday at 10:30 AM in a certain hotel. But if he does, then history will remember him as nothing but a rubber stamp!” Katushabe declared.
Katushabe also revealed that he had personally interacted with Dollo during his appointment process as Chief Justice, where he had expected him to be an independent thinker.
“Mr. Chief Justice, I was there when you were vetted. I personally interviewed you for 47 minutes. I escorted you after your approval. Don’t betray the trust the nation placed in you!” he implored.
“I will feel the most hurt if you read that template. We are putting the entire judiciary on notice. This is not just about Dr. Besigye. This is about democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Uganda,” Katushabe declared.
The Judiciary has not commented on these accusations.
As the countdown to Friday’s ruling begins, all eyes will be on Chief Justice Dollo and the Supreme Court.
