By Editorial,
Veteran opposition politician, Dr. Warren Kiiza Besigye and his aide Obeid Lutale today refused to take plea after the High Court directed that plea-taking proceed immediately, a move their lawyers protested as an ambush and a violation of their right to a fair hearing.
The directive was issued by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, who ruled that he would only entertain a bail application after the accused had taken plea, effectively blocking what was the fourth attempt by Besigye and Lutale to secure temporary release.
What had been scheduled as a ruling on a bail application and a request for a stay of criminal proceedings quickly escalated into a procedural standoff when the judge ordered that plea-taking take place without prior notice.
The prosecution dismissed claims of ambush, arguing that the defence had sufficient time to prepare since plea-taking was first scheduled in September. END