Kampala, Uganda – Prominent human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza was detained by the General Court Martial on January 7, 2025, during a tumultuous hearing involving opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and his associate Hajj Obeid Lutaale. The detention reportedly occurred on the orders of Advocate Judge Brigadier-General Richard Tukacungurwa, following a previous clash between the two over procedural matters in December.
The circumstances surrounding Kiiza’s detention remain unclear, but it has intensified an already fraught atmosphere in the courtroom. Tensions escalated as security personnel restricted entry for defense lawyers and notable opposition figures, including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua. Military police enforced these restrictions at the entrance, leading to scuffles and protests from lawyers and supporters outside the court.
Chants of “Never Surrender” filled the air as colleagues of the detained lawyer demanded accountability. Prominent figures such as Winnie Kiiza, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Ingrid Turinawe called for Court Martial Chairman Freeman Mugabe to address allegations of harassment against members of the People’s Front for Transition (PFT).
Inside the courtroom, proceedings were delayed as Kiiza was placed in a caged dock alongside Besigye and Lutaale. The defense team requested to dismiss what they termed a defective charge sheet against their clients. The chaotic scenes underscore escalating tensions between opposition leaders and state authorities as this contentious trial continues to attract significant public and political attention.