Uganda Offers to Transfer Opposition Leader’s Military Trial to Civilian Court
The Uganda government announced that it would transfer the opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who was sentenced to jail, from the military court to the civil court and comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the trial of civilians in the military court. According to the country’s information minister Chris Baryomunsi, the government is “fast tracking” the move. Besigye, who has long criticized President Yoweri Museveni, has been charged with treason for threatening national security. However, he began a hunger strike on February 10 to protest his detention. Besigye recently heard a separate case in court and looked weak, which sparked strong protests from his supporters. Although Baryomunsi was unable to confirm whether anger contributed to the government’s approximate face, he revealed that he visited Besigye in prison and urged him to end his hunger strike. Meanwhile, Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, expressed doubts about the government’s commitment, calling it “suspicious” and expressed concern about her husband’s health.
source: voa
