Jailed opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, together with his personal assistant Hajji Obeid Lutale and UPDF officer Captain Denis Oola, has been implicated in an alleged treason plot that includes a request for ricin poison to target government officials and a plan to assassinate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
According to a summary of evidence from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which Our Reporter has reviewed, the case is built on testimony from Andrew Wilson (AW), a private security contractor and proprietor of a firm specializing in firearms, investigations, and tactical training since 2003.
In 2021, Wilson was reportedly approached by Joel Wakhaima (JW), a Ugandan national based in Switzerland, who sought assistance in acquiring firearms and training operatives to overthrow the Ugandan government.
Realizing the gravity of the request, Wilson alerted a senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer then deployed in Somalia.
Acting on the officer’s advice, Wilson agreed to cooperate as an informant. He continued engaging with JW under the supervision of military intelligence up until 2023.
That year, JW allegedly introduced Wilson to Hon. Salaam Musumba, a senior opposition figure.
According to DPP documents, during their meeting, Musumba requested covert training in intelligence gathering and secure communications for operatives allegedly working to spy on the government.
A subsequent meeting in Brussels, Belgium, reportedly included Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, MPs Hon. Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku, and Charles Rwomushana.
The investigations claim that these engagements culminated in a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 29, 2023, attended by Dr. Besigye, Wilson, JW, and Frank Kihehere Atukunda.
During this meeting, participants allegedly discussed plans to forcibly overthrow the government, introduce counterfeit Ugandan currency into the economy in collaboration with insiders at the Bank of Uganda, and raise funds through economic sabotage.
The entire operation, the DPP notes, was under surveillance by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), and several interactions were reportedly recorded.
Besigye and his co-accused remain in custody facing charges of treason and misprision of treason.
His legal team has contested both the charges and the prolonged detention without trial, arguing constitutional violations.
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