ULS PETITIONS HIGH COURT FOR LIVE STREAMING OF BESIGYE TREASON CASE

Hajj Obeid Lutale and Dr. Kizza Besigye.

NILE POST

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has petitioned the High Court Criminal Division to allow live streaming of proceedings in the case where opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and two others are facing charges related to treason.

The society, in a letter dated July 15, 2026, addressed to the Deputy Registrar of the High Court Criminal Division, Samuel Twakyire, requested that proceedings in High Court Criminal Case No. 335 of 2025; Uganda versus Dr. Kiiza Kifefe Besigye, Hajji Obeid Lutale and Captain Denis Oola be broadcast live through the Judiciary’s platforms.

ULS says the request is aimed at promoting transparency, public access to justice and confidence in the judicial process, citing the public interest surrounding the case.

The society’s president and Head of the Bar, Isaac Ssemakadde, says ULS has received complaints from members of the public alleging possible judicial misconduct, as well as concerns from journalists who claim they have been restricted from covering the proceedings before trial judge Emmanuel Baguma.

Ssemakadde argues that limiting access to the proceedings undermines the principles of open justice and the public’s right to information.

The Law Society referenced a previous case, Uganda versus Christopher Onyum, where proceedings were live streamed through Judiciary platforms, saying a similar arrangement should be extended to the Besigye, Lutale and Oola case.

ULS says live streaming the proceedings would help reduce speculation, promote accountability and enable accurate reporting of the trial.

The petition now awaits consideration by the High Court, with the society expressing hope for a favourable response.