The Court has sent Dr. Kizza Besigye back to Luzira after it heard the presiding judge, Douglas Singiza, said the former FDC leader was unwell and need not have been paraded in court.
“He is unwell and should be taken back to prison. “This is an administrative order. If a prisoner is sick, I can’t continue with him, He might faint,” Singiza said.
In court, Besigye appeared frail and followed proceedings while seated. The court was packed with opposition leaders led by Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine.
Besigye’s lawyers had applied for a habeas corpus plea, seeking to have Besigye and his co-accused Obed Lutale produced in court dead or alive. The judge said his ruling on the matter will be delivered on notice.
The ruling left many disappointed, given that they had expected Besigye to be released so that he would get specialized medical attention.
Yet it must be pointed out that Besigye’s lawyers had never sought to apply for bail in the first place. When Besigye was charged in the court-martial, sources say he instructed his lawyers not to seek bail.
But circumstances have changed. First, the Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal for military courts to try civilians while Besigye went on a hunger strike, aggravating his health.
Over the past couple of days, pressure has been mounted to have Besigye released due to his failing health.
