By Aggrey Baba
The political and legal turbulence in Uganda has taken a grave turn following the rushed hospitalization of veteran opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has strongly condemned the actions of High Court Judge Dr. Douglas Karekona Singiza, whom they hold responsible for Besigye’s continued detention despite a Supreme Court ruling that rendered the charges against him unlawful.
The ULS, in a statement released, Monday, February 17, asserted that Besigye’s detention violates the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Attorney General versus Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka (Constitutional Appeal No. 2 of 2021), which nullified the trial of civilians in military courts.
This ruling effectively dismantled the legal basis for Besigye’s charges, meaning his detention has no foundation in law. The Law Society has, therefore, demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
However, despite this clear legal position, Judge Singiza has refused to grant an urgent hearing to a habeas corpus application filed by Besigye’s lawyers.
Habeas corpus, a fundamental legal remedy that ensures protection against unlawful detention, is supposed to take precedence over all other court matters. Yet, Singiza’s deliberate delay has raised serious concerns over judicial impartiality and human rights violations.
The Uganda Law Society has further pointed out a pattern in Judge Singiza’s rulings, linking him to previous cases where justice has been denied under questionable circumstances.
Singiza is the same judicial officer who denied bail to writer and activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, leading to his torture and eventual exile.
Additionally, he has refused to fix an application by the ULS itself seeking the release of lawyer Eron Kiiza, reinforcing concerns about judicial bias and the suppression of fundamental freedoms.
Dr. Besigye’s sudden hospitalization in Bugolobi, yesterday has only intensified the outrage, with supporters, family members, and fellow opposition politicians demanding immediate intervention.
The ULS has now called upon the leadership of the judiciary to review Judge Singiza’s conduct and take disciplinary action, emphasizing that his actions undermine the rule of law and erode public trust in the justice system.
Beyond Uganda’s borders, human rights organizations and the international community are being urged to hold the Ugandan government accountable for its obligations under international human rights law.
With the country’s political space growing increasingly restricted, the legal fraternity warns that failure to act now will set a dangerous precedent.
As the presure mounts, its important to remember that “when justice is caged, freedom struggles to breathe,” and the battle for Dr. Besigye’s release is not just about one man, but about the soul of Uganda’s justice system. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
