The High Court in Kampala has declined to order the prosecution to pay costs to the defence in the treason case involving opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused.
The application for costs was made by the defence after the prosecution withdrew its request to conceal the identities of six key witnesses in the case.
Trial judge Justice Emmanuel Baguma ruled that the application for costs was premature.
Earlier, Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka informed the court that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided to withdraw the witness protection application because it had delayed the commencement of the main trial.
Birivumbuka told court that more than three weeks had elapsed since the cross-examination of Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo on the matter.
He said the prosecution had opted to fully disclose the identities of the six witnesses and proceed with preparations for the substantive hearing of the treason case.
Justice Baguma ordered the state to make all disclosures to the defence by tomorrow, May 29, 2026.
The case was adjourned to June 1, 2026, for further preliminary hearing.
Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, is jointly charged with his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale and UPDF Captain Denis Oola Oyaa.
By Alex Magala
28th May 2026
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