He is no stranger to defending clients facing human rights and politically motivated cases in court. But the high profile case of Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya is a very high profile case that local and international media organizations as well as foreign powers are closely watching. And it has given lawyer Eron Kiiza a chance to face off with the military court.
Abducted from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where he had gone to attend the launch of a book by former minister and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Besigye and Kamulegeya were brought to Uganda and detained at Makindye before being produced in the military court.
They face charges of undermining national security and of possession of firearms and ammunition. On December 02, Besigye and Kamulegeya appeared before the Makindye-based General Court Martial presided over by its chairman, Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe.
It was hoped that the trial of the duo would begin and that his lawyers would make an attempt at a bail application.
But the military court had its own direction. It punched holes in the accreditation of Dr Besigye’s lawyers and urged the defence team to proceed without Besigye’s lead counsel Martha Karua. The military court also accused the defence of not being prepared to proceed.
Eron Kiiza ‘banged tables,’ perhaps in the way Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Ssemakadde would, telling prosecution to refrain from quoting rhetoric.
“I went for five years to study law. The constitution was promulgated in 1995 and article 221 – these articles are in my head – says that UPDF shall promote, respect and protect this constitution and the fundamental human rights of Ugandans,” a tough-speaking Kiiza submitted, facing the military court and prosecutors.
“We are saying a right to a fair hearing is not negotiable and we are saying the right of Besigye and Lutale to choose their lawyers, even to change them is not negotiable. So, if you are have not read those specific provisions, you shouldn’t come here to mislead court.”
To which the court told him he had come unprepared, and he responded: “I am prepared. That’s why I am reading the constitution and you are reading rhetoric.”
Read more on alleged leaked classified audios in which a man believed to be Besigye is negotiating weapons to remove Museveni and talking of an unserious Bobi Wine, as well as his wife and UNAIDS boss Winnie Byanyima breaking silence on reports that she begged the DPP to save her husband Here and There.
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