Besigye Treason Trial Hears Audio Claiming Police Support For Opposition Struggle

Kampala, August 27, 2026 - A court hearing in the treason trial of opposition politician Kizza Besigye featured an audio recording in which a voice identified as his allegedly discussed support from police officers.

The recording was presented as part of proceedings in the high-profile case against one of Uganda's most prominent opposition figures. A witness told court that discussions in the case also touched on an alleged assassination plot.

Besigye's lawyers, led by Erias Lukwago and Ernest Kalibala, argued for his immediate release, citing alleged violations of his fundamental rights. Defense counsel also said the legal team had been disrupted after Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda and Lukwago was abducted and later charged.

The trial remains politically significant because it tests the handling of opposition prosecutions, due process and the independence of Uganda's justice system ahead of continued pressure on the country's political environment.