Court has discontinued with treason charges which had been slapped against Col Kizza Besigye for allegedly swearing in himself as the president of the Republic of Uganda after 2016 presidential polls.
“This is to inform court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to discontinue proceedings against Rtd Col Kizza Besigye Kifefe charged with treason,” the withdrawal form reads.
According to sources, the form was filed before Nakawa Court’s registry, and it was not followed with the formal withdrawal process that involves court convening with the accused person/s present.
According to Besigye’s lawyers who represented him in the case, Mr Ernest Kalibaala, said he was not aware of the case withdrawal which was done in December 2019 during Justice Mike Chibita’s reign as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“If it was withdrawn, I have never seen the documentation, may be it was done secretly. I heard about it the other day,” Mr Kalibaala said.
The treason charges arose after a video clip of the alleged swearing-in Dr. Besigye as the president of the Republic of Uganda went viral on social media platforms on May 11, 2016 the day of President Museveni’s swearing-in for the fifth elective term in office occurred.
Dr Besigye was then charged with treason in Moroto District before being transferred to Nakawa Court in Kampala where he was charged afresh.