Jailed opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale have rejected the court’s proposal for alternative legal representation, insisting they will only be defended by their chosen lawyers, Senior Counsel Martha Karua and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
In a letter addressed to the High Court from Luzira Prison, the duo argues that forcing them to accept different counsel would violate their constitutional right to a fair hearing and compromise their defence strategy.
Besigye and Lutale accuse the State of deliberately weakening their legal team, citing the arrest of Erias Lukwago and the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua as part of what they describe as a coordinated effort to disrupt their defence.
They maintain that without their preferred lawyers, they are unable to adequately prepare and present their case before court.
The two have also challenged the court’s current scheduling of proceedings, particularly the timeline for hearing their bail application, arguing that key issues surrounding legal representation must first be resolved.
The dispute over legal counsel has now become a central issue in the high-profile case, adding new complexity to an already politically sensitive matter.
The accused are asking the High Court to first determine whether their objections regarding representation are valid before proceeding with the bail hearing or the main trial.
