The High Court in Kampala has given the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, seven days to file his defence in response to an application filed by jailed opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Besigye sued Gen. Muhoozi over a series of public statements he alleges threatened his life and undermined his right to a fair hearing, including remarks suggesting he should be hanged on Heroes’ Day.
The directive was issued on Thursday by Emmanuel Baguma of the High Court’s Criminal Division. Justice Baguma ordered the five respondents to file their responses by June 18, 2026.
Any rejoinders must be filed by June 25, while the hearing of the application has been scheduled for June 30, 2026.
The other respondents in the suit are Peter Ahimbisibwe, Ephraim Byaruhanga, and the Attorney General.
The officers are alleged to have participated in an operation in Kenya that resulted in the arrest and transfer of Besigye and his co-accused aide, Obeid Lutale. The two are facing treason-related charges alongside Denis Oola.
At the centre of the application are allegations that Gen. Muhoozi made repeated public statements on social media platform X that prejudged Besigye’s case, threatened his life, and interfered with the administration of justice.
Court documents cite a January 16, 2025, post allegedly stating: “We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die.” The application also references a February 19, 2026, statement in which Muhoozi allegedly wrote that Besigye was “a dead man walking.”
Another statement cited in the court filing allegedly suggested that Besigye could be hanged or shot, while others indicated he would leave prison only in a coffin or after apologising to President Yoweri Museveni.
The applicants argue that the statements amount to public prejudgment of guilt, threats of extrajudicial punishment, psychological torture, and interference with judicial independence.
Meanwhile, the treason case against Besigye and Lutale, which was expected to commence on June 11, did not proceed after the two failed to appear in court.
Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Emmanuel Hiire informed the court that the accused persons had cited unresolved issues involving their lawyers and the court.
When Justice Baguma sought clarification on their absence, Hiire said the court should seek further explanation from Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General of Prisons.
By Edit Namwanje
11th June 2026
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