By Kiiza Besigye
To:
Justice Emmanuel Baguma,
Criminal Division,
Uganda High Court,
Kampala
Re: Directions issued on 18th October 2025 in CS Case No. 3357/2025
I am accused number three in the above case. I expressed my intention to raise matters of concern when I appeared before, together with the other accused persons, on 1st Oct 2025.
First, you outrightly declined my request on the ground that I am represented by lawyers. Following a spirited engagement between you and our lawyers, you granted my request on the condition that I write my concern and file it in court by 3rd Oct, and that you offer your response on 8th Oct 2025.
Following your orders, my lawyer, who wanted, upon my instruction, to seek from you the law under which I could not directly address court about my concerns, was not given the opportunity.
Being a person accused of a serious offence, I find it strange and oppressive if I cannot raise a concern directly in open court. If each time a written submission of the concern has to be made and a time fixed for your response, the case may never be concluded. Meanwhile, I remain confined in prison.
Be that as it may, prior to raising my concerns in writing, I request you to point me to the provisions of the law that bars an accused person from orally raising concerns in court, touching their trial, during any audience with the Judge, in the presence of their lawyers.
Following your response, I will take into consideration that law to guide me in raising my concerns to court.
Yours sincerely,
Kizza Besigye
UR 1867/2024
cc: Counsel
