KAMPALA- Jailed Former FDC leader Rt. Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya insist they prefer Kenyan Lawyer Martha Karua to lead their defence team even in light of a Law council decision that denied her a temporary practising certificate in Uganda.
Through their other Lawyer Elias Lukwago, the two have informed the Military court that they are in the process of devising means to have Karua represent them and for that matter they should be given ample time to have their non-negotiable right to representation .
Lukwago has explained that among the means devised is giving more time to the law Council members to exhaust Karua’s response to the decision rendered yesterday and see if it can rescind its decision and permit Karua lead the defence team.
The Lawyers have further complained that their team is incomplete and work under intimidation following the abduction of their colleague Rt. Major Ronald Iduli this morning.
The lawyers led by Elias Lukwago and Eron Kiiza and have also complained about the limited court infrastructure where some of their colleagues remain standing throughout the entire proceedings due to a few seats provided and claim they are unable to effectively work in such a manner .
Besigye and Hajji Obeid were on 16th/ November 2023 arrested from Riverside Hotel in Nairobi and brought back to Uganda to face charges of unlawful possession of firearms , ammunition and also offenses related to security .
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and have since challenged the jurisdiction of the General Court Martial to try cases committed outside Uganda.
The court chaired by Brig. General Freeman Mugabe further remanded Besigye to Luzira until 7th January 2024.
