Eron Kiiza, the outspoken lawyer representing opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, has been handed a harsh nine-month prison sentence by the General Court Martial in Makindye.
The court, notorious for its controversial rulings, found Kiiza guilty of contempt after his outburst during case proceedings of Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutaale.
Kiiza, shackled and escorted by military police, was led into the dock. The clock ticked down, and two minutes later, the ruling came crashing down, he was sentenced to jail with no chance to defend himself, no charges read aloud, and no time for mitigation.
Brigadier Robert Freeman Mugabe, the court’s chairperson, was firm in his verdict, accusing Kiiza of confronting and assaulting a court orderly, and stubbornly ignoring warnings to calm down.
Despite his previous record of representing high-profile figures, this latest blow may have taken the legal community by surprise. After the sentencing, Kiiza’s colleagues, including the renowned Erias Lukwago and Fredrick Mpanga, fiercely contested the ruling, arguing that even the guilty should have a chance to be heard. Unfortunately, their appeal was swiftly rejected by the court.
In a final dramatic moment, Kiiza, looking sharp in a blue suit, was escorted back to the holding cells. The nine-month sentence is to be served at Kitalya Government Prison.
