Besigye charged with treason
2005-11-14 21:08
Kampala - Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was on Monday charged with treason and rape, hours after he was arrested by heavily armed police officers, a move that triggered riots in the capital.
Besigye was arraigned before magistrate Margarat Tiburua, but was not required to plead to the charges because the court does not have juridiction over capital offences.
According to the charge sheet, Besigye and 22 others committed acts of treason - planning to overthrow a government - had knowledge of treason being planned but failed to report it to the authorities.
In addition, "In November 1997, in Ruzira (a Kampala suburb) he raped a girl called Kyakuwa Joanita," the charge sheet read.
Tiburua remanded him into prison custody until Tuesday, when the court is expected to give directions for the charge, which carries a mandatory death sentence.
Hours earlier heavily armed police armed police arrested Besigye in the capital's Busega surburb after addressing a political rally in Mbarara, 250km west of Kampala, sparking violent demonstrations by thousands of protestors.
Besigye, who returned to Uganda last month after four years of self-imposed exile, is likely to stand against President Yoweri Museveni in next year's general elections.
- AFP