12/06/2026
Court orders Muhoozi to file defence in Besigye hanging case.
The High court in Kampala has given Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba just seven days to file his defence in an application brought by jailed opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
Besigye accuses Muhoozi of making a series of public statements that allegedly threatened his life and prejudiced his right to a fair trial. The order was issued on Thursday by justice Emmanuel Baguma of the Criminal Division, who directed all five respondents to file their responses by June 18, 2026. Any rejoinders must be filed by June 25, while the application will be heard on June 30.
The other respondents are Col Peter Ahimbisibwe, Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga and the Attorney General. Ahimbisibwe and Byaruhanga are alleged to have participated in the operation that led to the arrest of Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale, in Kenya.
At the centre of the application are allegations that Muhoozi repeatedly made public statements on social media platform X that amounted to threats and undermined Besigye’s right to a fair hearing.
Among the statements cited is a January 16, 2025 post allegedly stating: “We will hang KB on Heroes’ Day. That’s the best day for him to die.”
The applicants also reference a February 19, 2026 post in which Muhoozi allegedly wrote: “Besigye wanted to kill Mzee, so as far as we are concerned, UPDF, he is a dead man walking.”
Another statement cited in court documents allegedly read: “I think we might hang Besigye by next month. If we don’t hang him, we will shoot him dead. That will be a great day for Uganda.”
The application further cites statements suggesting Besigye would leave prison only “in his coffin” or after apologising to President Yoweri Museveni, as well as comments indicating he would not be released until subjected to “the full extent of martial law.”
According to the applicants, the statements amount to public prejudgment of guilt, threats of extrajudici