The high-profile legal battle involving opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye has taken a new turn after former Kampala Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura raised concerns over the pace and handling of court proceedings on Monday.
According to Nyanjura, the matter before Justice Emmanuel Baguma has escalated following the prosecution’s submission of extensive material, including hundreds of pages of witness statements and hours of audio recordings, which the defence says are too voluminous to be reviewed within the time granted.
“We are back to justice Emmanuel Baguma’s ‘torture chamber’ for the case involving Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Kamulegeya,” Nyanjura stated, framing the hearing in sharp and critical terms as the legal process resumed.
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She added that the prosecution had only recently served the defence team with what she described as more than 800 pages of witness statements alongside seven hours of audio evidence.
The defence, she said, immediately objected, arguing that the material required adequate time for proper review.
Despite the objections, Justice Baguma reportedly maintained that the accused must complete their review within seven days, a timeline the defence has described as insufficient given the volume of evidence presented.
The judge has since directed that the hearing will commence on June 8.
“The prosecution has just served the defense team with over 800 pages of witness statements and 7 hours of audio evidence,” Nyanjura said.
“Despite strong protests from the defense regarding the massive volume of disclosure, Justice Baguma insists on giving the accused only 7 days to review the material.”
Following the ruling, Dr. Besigye is said to have rejected the decision and instructed his legal team to challenge the directive at the Constitutional Court, arguing that it undermines his right to a fair trial and adequate preparation.