The High Court Criminal Division in Kampala, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, has continued hearing the treason case against Dr. Kizza Besigye, with the prosecution’s first witness detailing alleged plans to use Uganda’s border areas to facilitate the movement of weapons and destabilise the government.

Testifying before court, witness Wilson Andrew, also known as Orlando, said that following a meeting in Athens, Greece, plans were made for another meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said the meeting was intended to bring together Besigye and senior members of an alleged group to discuss cooperation and plans to advance efforts to overthrow the Ugandan government by force.

Orlando told court that the alleged group discussed various ways of creating chaos and destabilising the government, including the movement of weapons into Uganda.

He said earlier plans had allegedly involved groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the witness, the group also discussed working with forces opposed to President Yoweri Museveni and using Uganda’s border areas to facilitate the movement of weapons into the country.

The witness further testified that boda boda riders were considered for transporting people and materials, while plans were also made to mobilise crowds to create chaos and instability.

The prosecution alleges that the Nairobi meeting formed part of a wider series of plans aimed at destabilising the country.

These allegedly included undermining Uganda’s economy by introducing counterfeit US$500,000 and using it to purchase coffee from rural areas before reselling it in Kampala.

The prosecution further alleges that the plans involved overthrowing the government and taking power with the support of elements within the military.

The hearing of the case is ongoing.

By Edith Namwanje