Besigye Gun Case Takes New Twist As Kenyan Former Justice Minister Now Heads Legal Team
By Angel Lubowa
KAMPALA
The former Kenya justice minister Hon Martha Karua and other prominent lawyers from Kenya have joined hands with Ugandans lawyers headed by Kampala’ Lord Mayor, Erias Likwago to challenge cases slammed against Besigye and Hajj Obedi Lutale.
Karua on whose invitation to her book launch, Dr Besigye was kidnapped with Lutale while in Kenya had been nominated to lead this powerful legal brains.
Besigye will be reappearing in the general court-martial in Makindye on December 2,2024.
According to Mr Lukwago, Karua and other lawyers numbering to about 50 people will grace the December hearing.
He said legal proceedings to enable Karua and other Kenyan lawyers to practice in Uganda as required by law have started to ensure the court date finds them with temporary practicing certificates.
Laws require non Ugandan lawyers who want to practice here to be coming from common wealth countries, get temporary practicing certificates from Uganda law council and be attached to any law firm in Uganda .
Likwago said all these are being worked upon , attaching them to his own law firm and seeking other requirements as of Monday 25,2024.
Meanwhile Mr Likwago announced that plans have been hatched for the Kenyan government to be dragged to court for its alleged acquiescence in the enforced disappearance of Besigye.
He said legal action is being taken against both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments for their involvement in the abduction of Dr Besigye saying the act was a violation of Kenya’s territorial integrity and a breach of its immigration laws.
Besigye and his legal team challenge his being charged in a military court for cases of allegedly threatening Uganda security, being in possession of two pistols and eight sounds of ammunition as well as holding meetings in Kenya, Greece and Switzerland for facilitating instability which he and Lutale denies.
In his initial submissions, Lukwago told the army court that the charge sheet was defective since neither the Uganda court-martial not the UPDF have the jurisdictions of the areas where the alleged cases were committed.
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