A Ugandan judge on Friday refused to grant bail to the veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges.
This case has raised significant concerns among government critics and rights groups about a potential crackdown ahead of the nation’s next election.
President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking another re-election in the national election early next year, which is the context for these concerns.
The government, however, denies targeting opposition figures, asserting that all individuals who have been detained have committed verifiable crimes.
A former ally and personal physician of President Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against him in four elections and has not confirmed if he will run again.
Besigye, who has continually denied any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighboring Kenya in November last year and initially charged in a military tribunal.
His lawyers argued that he should have been automatically released on bail for spending more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting.
Judge Emmanuel Baguma stated the 180-day maximum period for mandatory bail only began when Besigye was officially remanded in a civilian court on February 21.
The judge clarified that the 180-day period started on February 21, meaning he fell short of the deadline by 12 days to secure his bail.
Therefore, the judge concluded that Besigye fell short by 12 days in order to legally secure his release on bail.