'He forced me to have sex'

2006-01-02 13:39

Kampala - The rape trial for detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye began here on Monday with the graphic description of an alleged sexual assault by the man seen as President Yoweri Museveni's main rival in elections next month.

The prosecution of Besigye - who is also facing treason, terrorism and weapons charges that he and his supporters insist are political - got under way amid tight security before a capacity audience at the High Court in Kampala with the appearance of his accuser in the rape case, an AFP correspondent said.

The alleged victim, who was publicly identified in court, testified that the chief of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party had raped her in November 1997 at his home in Kampala's Luzira surbub after she had gone there at a relative's suggestion to seek help in paying school fees.

"He pinned me down and held my hands," said Joanita Kyakuwa, who was 20 at the time of the alleged rape. "He forced my shorts off and pulled down my knickers and used one had to hold me down and used the other to down his tracksuit trousers."

He forced me to have sex'

"He had sexual intercourse with me by force," Kyakuwa told the court. "I don't remember how long it took, but he did not use a condom. I was crying and I felt betrayed."

Besigye is currently listed as a presidential candidate alongside Museveni and several others in February 23 polls but his candidacy will be nullified if he is convicted on any of the charges.

The politician, who has pleaded not guilty, listened keenly and took notes as his accuser testified.

Ugandan security forces, who have been accused by the defence, court officials and lawyers of interfering in the case with their presence at earlier hearings, surrounded the courthouse, and key roads to the facility were blocked.

In addition the rape charge, Besigye, along with 22 co-defendants, faces a separate charge of treason before the High Court, as well as terrorism and weapons charges before a military tribunal.

The treason trial is expected to begin later this week and defence lawyers are seeking to have the military charges thrown out, arguing that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over civilians.

- AFP