As the world marked Father’s Day on Sunday, social media personality and blogger Jackie Akampwera, popularly known as Madam CEO, turned attention to two high-profile Ugandan opposition figures currently entangled in legal battles—Dr. Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago.
In a reflective post on X, Akampwera said the two gentlemen crossed her mind on a day typically reserved for celebrating fatherhood, describing them as individuals she rarely speaks about in a political context but felt compelled to acknowledge.
She went on to question the continued delay in Besigye’s treason-related case, which has been moving through different court processes since his initial arrest and arraignment in the military court before being transferred to the High Court following a Constitutional Court ruling that civilian cases should be handled in civilian courts.
“Who is delaying Dr. Besigye’s trial? Something doesn’t add up!” she added.
Akampwera’s remarks come amid ongoing debate over procedural delays in the case. The prosecution has previously maintained that it is ready to proceed, stating that it has presented what it considers sufficient evidence and is prepared to advance the trial.
However, the defence team has filed multiple applications and raised several legal objections tied to jurisdiction, disclosure, and constitutional questions—arguments that have repeatedly been heard before the main trial proceeds.
According to Akampwera’s interpretation, the numerous applications—reportedly more than a dozen—have contributed to slowing down the hearing process, as courts must first address them before proceeding to the substantive case.
She suggested that the repeated filings may be contributing to what she described as deliberate delays, arguing that the justice system is being slowed down by procedural battles rather than advancing toward a determination of the main charges.
Ordinarily, she noted, both prosecution and defence would be expected to push for a swift hearing of the case to ensure timely justice.
Turning to Lukwago, who is separately facing a charge of misprision of treason, Akampwera observed that his case has become closely linked to Besigye’s legal battles due to his role in the defence team.
She noted that while concerns were raised over aspects of his arrest, he is now formally before court and should also be subject to a speedy hearing.
She added that since both matters are interconnected in the broader legal context, expeditious handling would help avoid further delays and speculation.
Akampwera concluded by urging that the cases be handled efficiently, warning that continued delays risk deepening political interpretations of what she described as a strictly legal process.