Mawakili 40 kutoka Taasisi 12 za uwakili nchini Uganda wameungana kumtetea kiongozi wa upinzani, Dkt. Kizza Besigye na Hajj Obeid Lutale ambao wamewekwa kizuizini kwa muda sasa.
Wamewasilisha maombi mapya Mahakama Kuu kupinga hatua za serikali wanazodai kuwa zinakiuka haki ya kikatiba ya washtakiwa kupata kesi ya haki na uwakilishi wa kisheria. Maombi hayo yalifunguliwa rasmi mnamo Juni 29, 2026, katika Mahakama Kuu ya Uganda
Hatua hii imekuja baada ya serikali kumzuia kuingia nchini wakili mwandamizi wa Besigye , Martha Karua kutoka Kenya, na kumfungulia mashtaka ya uhaini wakili mwingine, Meya wa Jiji la Kampala Erias Lukwago, ambao wote wawili ni sehemu ya jopo la utetezi. Kulingana na nyaraka hizo, mawakili wanahoji kuwa hatua zilizochukuliwa dhidi ya wenzao zimeingilia haki ya washtakiwa kupata uwakilishi wa kisheria na kuvuruga maandalizi ya kesi ya uhaini inayowakabili.
Maombi hayo pia yanagusia taarifa zilizotolewa hadharani na Mkuu wa Majeshi, Jenerali Muhoozi Kainerugaba, kupitia ukurasa wake wa X uliothibitishwa. Kulingana na walalamikaji, ujumbe huo ulijumuisha maoni kuhusu kufukuzwa kwa Karua na matamshi yanayohusiana na kesi ya uhaini inayomkabili Besigye.
Mawakili hao wanadai kuwa kauli kama hizo zinaharibu dhana ya kikatiba kwamba mtu hana hatia hadi athibitike vinginevyo, na pia zinaingilia uhuru wa mahakama. Hata hivyo.
Miongoni mwa amri zinazombwa, walalamikaji wanaiomba Mahakama Kuu kutangaza kuwa uamuzi wa kumzuia Karua kuingia Uganda ulikuwa kinyume cha sheria. Pia wanaomba amri ya kudumu ya kuwazuia maafisa wa serikali kumzuia kuingia nchini au kuingilia kazi yake kama wakili katika shauri hilo.
Vilevile, wanaomba amri ya kusitisha mashtaka yanayoendelea dhidi ya Lukwago kwa madai kwamba kesi hiyo ni matumizi mabaya ya mamlaka ya mahakama, pamoja na tamko rasmi kuwa kauli za hadharani zinazohukumu kesi hiyo kabla ya wakati zinavunja haki za kikatiba za washtakiwa.
Pamoja na hayo, walalamikaji wanadai fidia ya jumla, fidia ya kuliwaza kutokana na madhara makubwa waliopata (aggravated damages), na fidia ya kuadhibu upande wa mashtaka (exemplary damages) kwa kile walichokiita ukiukwaji wa haki yao ya kikatiba ya kupata uwakilishi wa kisheria na kusikilizwa kwa haki.
Hadi sasa, Mahakama Kuu bado haijapanga tarehe ya kusikiliza maombi hayo.
Taasisi hizo za uwakili ni:- The coalition comprises Lukwago & Co. Advocates, Nalukoola Advocates & Solicitors, Datum Advocates, Tugume Byensi & Co. Advocates, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, Matsiko, Wanda & Arinda Advocates, Abdallah Kiwanuka Associated Advocates, Arinaitwe Peter and Co. Advocates, Alaka & Co. Advocates, Kintu, Twinomugisha & Co. Advocates, Baraka Legal Associated Advocates and Alto Advocates.
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A coalition of 12 Ugandan law firms has joined forces to represent opposition leader Col. (Rtd.) Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, in a fresh human rights application challenging actions they say have undermined the accused's constitutional right to a fair trial.
The application, filed before the High Court on June 29, 2026, follows the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua and the prosecution of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, both members of the defence team. According to the application, the lawyers contend that the actions taken against members of the legal team have interfered with the applicants' right to legal representation and compromised preparations for the ongoing treason proceedings.
The coalition comprises Lukwago & Co. Advocates, Nalukoola Advocates & Solicitors, Datum Advocates, Tugume Byensi & Co. Advocates, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, Matsiko, Wanda & Arinda Advocates, Abdallah Kiwanuka Associated Advocates, Arinaitwe Peter and Co. Advocates, Alaka & Co. Advocates, Kintu, Twinomugisha & Co. Advocates, Baraka Legal Associated Advocates and Alto Advocates. Court documents state that Karua was detained upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport on June 22 before being declared a prohibited immigrant and returned to Kenya. The applicants argue that the decision was unlawful and interfered with their right to counsel.
The application also challenges the criminal proceedings instituted against Lukwago, who faces charges of misprision of treason. The defence argues that the prosecution has prevented one of the accused's chosen lawyers from participating in the case.
In a supporting affidavit, advocate Muhindo Morgan alleges that the actions taken against members of the defence team form part of a broader pattern intended to interfere with the applicants' legal representation.
The application further refers to public statements allegedly made by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on his verified X account. According to the applicants, the statements included comments about Karua's deportation and remarks relating to the ongoing criminal proceedings against Besigye.
The applicants contend that such statements undermine the constitutional presumption of innocence and interfere with the independence of the judiciary. These allegations have not been determined by the court.
Among the orders sought, the applicants ask the High Court to declare the decision to block Karua's entry into Uganda unlawful and to issue a permanent injunction restraining authorities from preventing her entry or interfering with her work as counsel in the matter.
They also seek orders restraining the continued prosecution of Lukwago on grounds that the proceedings amount to an abuse of court process, as well as declarations that public statements allegedly prejudging the case violate the applicants' constitutional rights.
In addition, the applicants are seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages for what they describe as violations of their constitutional right to legal representation and a fair hearing.
The High Court is yet to fix a date for hearing the application.
Read also
Source: Nile Post
Wamewasilisha maombi mapya Mahakama Kuu kupinga hatua za serikali wanazodai kuwa zinakiuka haki ya kikatiba ya washtakiwa kupata kesi ya haki na uwakilishi wa kisheria. Maombi hayo yalifunguliwa rasmi mnamo Juni 29, 2026, katika Mahakama Kuu ya Uganda
Hatua hii imekuja baada ya serikali kumzuia kuingia nchini wakili mwandamizi wa Besigye , Martha Karua kutoka Kenya, na kumfungulia mashtaka ya uhaini wakili mwingine, Meya wa Jiji la Kampala Erias Lukwago, ambao wote wawili ni sehemu ya jopo la utetezi. Kulingana na nyaraka hizo, mawakili wanahoji kuwa hatua zilizochukuliwa dhidi ya wenzao zimeingilia haki ya washtakiwa kupata uwakilishi wa kisheria na kuvuruga maandalizi ya kesi ya uhaini inayowakabili.
Maombi hayo pia yanagusia taarifa zilizotolewa hadharani na Mkuu wa Majeshi, Jenerali Muhoozi Kainerugaba, kupitia ukurasa wake wa X uliothibitishwa. Kulingana na walalamikaji, ujumbe huo ulijumuisha maoni kuhusu kufukuzwa kwa Karua na matamshi yanayohusiana na kesi ya uhaini inayomkabili Besigye.
Mawakili hao wanadai kuwa kauli kama hizo zinaharibu dhana ya kikatiba kwamba mtu hana hatia hadi athibitike vinginevyo, na pia zinaingilia uhuru wa mahakama. Hata hivyo.
Miongoni mwa amri zinazombwa, walalamikaji wanaiomba Mahakama Kuu kutangaza kuwa uamuzi wa kumzuia Karua kuingia Uganda ulikuwa kinyume cha sheria. Pia wanaomba amri ya kudumu ya kuwazuia maafisa wa serikali kumzuia kuingia nchini au kuingilia kazi yake kama wakili katika shauri hilo.
Vilevile, wanaomba amri ya kusitisha mashtaka yanayoendelea dhidi ya Lukwago kwa madai kwamba kesi hiyo ni matumizi mabaya ya mamlaka ya mahakama, pamoja na tamko rasmi kuwa kauli za hadharani zinazohukumu kesi hiyo kabla ya wakati zinavunja haki za kikatiba za washtakiwa.
Pamoja na hayo, walalamikaji wanadai fidia ya jumla, fidia ya kuliwaza kutokana na madhara makubwa waliopata (aggravated damages), na fidia ya kuadhibu upande wa mashtaka (exemplary damages) kwa kile walichokiita ukiukwaji wa haki yao ya kikatiba ya kupata uwakilishi wa kisheria na kusikilizwa kwa haki.
Hadi sasa, Mahakama Kuu bado haijapanga tarehe ya kusikiliza maombi hayo.
Taasisi hizo za uwakili ni:- The coalition comprises Lukwago & Co. Advocates, Nalukoola Advocates & Solicitors, Datum Advocates, Tugume Byensi & Co. Advocates, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, Matsiko, Wanda & Arinda Advocates, Abdallah Kiwanuka Associated Advocates, Arinaitwe Peter and Co. Advocates, Alaka & Co. Advocates, Kintu, Twinomugisha & Co. Advocates, Baraka Legal Associated Advocates and Alto Advocates.
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A coalition of 12 Ugandan law firms has joined forces to represent opposition leader Col. (Rtd.) Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, in a fresh human rights application challenging actions they say have undermined the accused's constitutional right to a fair trial.
The application, filed before the High Court on June 29, 2026, follows the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua and the prosecution of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, both members of the defence team. According to the application, the lawyers contend that the actions taken against members of the legal team have interfered with the applicants' right to legal representation and compromised preparations for the ongoing treason proceedings.
The coalition comprises Lukwago & Co. Advocates, Nalukoola Advocates & Solicitors, Datum Advocates, Tugume Byensi & Co. Advocates, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, Matsiko, Wanda & Arinda Advocates, Abdallah Kiwanuka Associated Advocates, Arinaitwe Peter and Co. Advocates, Alaka & Co. Advocates, Kintu, Twinomugisha & Co. Advocates, Baraka Legal Associated Advocates and Alto Advocates. Court documents state that Karua was detained upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport on June 22 before being declared a prohibited immigrant and returned to Kenya. The applicants argue that the decision was unlawful and interfered with their right to counsel.
The application also challenges the criminal proceedings instituted against Lukwago, who faces charges of misprision of treason. The defence argues that the prosecution has prevented one of the accused's chosen lawyers from participating in the case.
In a supporting affidavit, advocate Muhindo Morgan alleges that the actions taken against members of the defence team form part of a broader pattern intended to interfere with the applicants' legal representation.
The application further refers to public statements allegedly made by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on his verified X account. According to the applicants, the statements included comments about Karua's deportation and remarks relating to the ongoing criminal proceedings against Besigye.
The applicants contend that such statements undermine the constitutional presumption of innocence and interfere with the independence of the judiciary. These allegations have not been determined by the court.
Among the orders sought, the applicants ask the High Court to declare the decision to block Karua's entry into Uganda unlawful and to issue a permanent injunction restraining authorities from preventing her entry or interfering with her work as counsel in the matter.
They also seek orders restraining the continued prosecution of Lukwago on grounds that the proceedings amount to an abuse of court process, as well as declarations that public statements allegedly prejudging the case violate the applicants' constitutional rights.
In addition, the applicants are seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages for what they describe as violations of their constitutional right to legal representation and a fair hearing.
The High Court is yet to fix a date for hearing the application.
Read also
- Martha Karua denied entry into Uganda ahead of Besigye, Lutale court appearance
- ULS protests as immigration blocks, deports Martha Karua at Entebbe
Source: Nile Post