KAMPALA– High Court Judge Emmanuel Baguma on Tuesday dismissed an application by Dr. Kiiza Besigye and his aidee Hajji Obeid Lutale in which they had asked the judge to step side in hearing of their treason case.
The duo accuse, Baguma of being biased in their case since he failed to grant them bail despite of the fact that they had all qualities required for one to get a mandatory bail.
Besigye’s lawyer Erias Lukwago, last week in the letter addressed to the judge, that there was a Prolonged delay in fixing a date for this application and Secondly, the dismissal of MA No. 399 of 2025 application for mandatory bail are some of the grounds why they don’t want Baguma in their case.
“Although this application was filed on 22nd April 2025, it was allocated to me on 28th of April 2025 following my transfer from Civil Division to this division. this honorable court started with fixing cases on first in first out basis. And this particular application was not among the old filed bail applications. The alleged prolonged fixing does not amount to reasonable apprehension of bias because this court was basing on fist in first out.”
He also emphasized that, the nature of our work as judges, they are obliged to look at the facts and the law without fear, favour or ill will. In addition, they took oath and pledged to uphold the
same.
” It is my strong stand that facts and the law should always determine where our decisions as judges should go but not the wishes, blackmail and intimidation of people.”
Baguma also reminded the applicants, that the accused have no right to choose which Judge should hear their case.
This decision has been also criticized on various legal forums as well as among the members of the general public who received the decision with mixed reactions.
