afrol News, 24 November - Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye now stands before a military court accused of treason. His lawyers are arrested and supporters fear he will be sentenced to death. Demonstrations and speeches linked to the trial have been banned as Uganda takes faster and faster steps towards dictatorship.

Mr Besigye was expected to answer to the treason charges made against him at the Kampala High Court today, but was instead dragged to a military court. The army claims it has jurisdiction in the case as it had involved illegal weapons.

The step has caused shock in Uganda, with Mr Besigye's followers believing the opposition's presidential candidate is now one step closer to a death sentence. Mr Besigye, who intended to become President Yoweri Museveni's main challenger in the presidential polls in March next year, has refused to speak in the military court.

The opposition leader's lawyers protested the transfer from a civilian to a military court. The protest was seen as a "contempt of court" and the lawyers were arrested. Mr Besigye subsequently refused event to answer whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.

Outside, the riots that marked Kampala last week have stopped. The regime on Tuesday issued a decree banning speech and demonstrations linked to the trial. Ugandan media were warned not to discuss the case by Information Minister James Nsaba Buturo. The government would close down newspapers and radio stations breaking the ban, he said.

The increasingly repressive methods introduced by the Museveni regime during the past eight days have shocked both Ugandans and foreign allies of the Ugandan President. Washington, a close ally of Mr Museveni, last week protested the arrest of Mr Besigye. Strong forces in the US now urge the State Department to review its Uganda policies in light of the drastic actions taken this week by President Museveni.

Also human rights groups world-wide are strongly concerned about developments in Kampala. The New York-based group Human Rights Watch yesterday urged the US government to "cut relations" with Uganda. "The Ugandan government has seriously damaged its human rights reputation by riding roughshod over the rights of political opponents and the courts," commented Jemera Rone of the group.

Also within Uganda, opposition to the harsh methods of government are very widespread, although the demonstration ban has stopped riots for now. One of Uganda's chief judges has denounced the government's attempt to intimidate the judiciary with state security and military forces. But protesters are confused on how to act. Opposition activists trying to hang posters have been arrested and the posters, denouncing the trial, have been confiscated.

President Museveni, who has been Uganda's president ever since he came to power as a rebel leader in 1986, is running for his third term, after Parliament amended the constitution in mid-2005 to lift the limit of two presidential terms. Mr Besigye, who was Mr Museveni's personal doctor and then an officer in the new government army that Mr Museveni founded, ran against President Museveni in the last elections in 2001, which were marred by violence. Mr Museveni won, and Mr Besigye garnered 26 percent of the vote, according to official results.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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