Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has boycotted the start of his treason trial, accusing the presiding judge of lacking neutrality.
His refusal to attend comes as Uganda prepares for elections next year, where President Yoweri Museveni, aged 80, is seeking re-election after nearly four decades in power.
The case was scheduled to open in Kampala after months of delays. Besigye and his aide Obed Lutale, who were detained in Kenya last November and later charged in Uganda, declined to appear before Judge Emmanuel Baguma.
Their lawyer said the decision followed Baguma’s refusal to remove himself from the case despite concerns over fairness.
Besigye’s legal team argue that earlier rulings, including the denial of bail, showed prejudice and left little confidence in the court process.
Judiciary officials dismissed these claims, saying there is no valid reason for the judge to step aside. Baguma has not commented on the matter.
A former ally and personal doctor of Museveni, Besigye has run for president four times, consistently emerging as the government’s strongest challenger.
Though he has not confirmed new political ambitions, his detention has drawn international attention to Uganda’s human rights record and restrictions on opposition activity.
The treason charges allege that Besigye and Lutale acted to destabilize the government.
The case was first handled in a military tribunal before being transferred to a civilian court.
Ongoing delays and now the boycott raise doubts about when the trial will fully proceed.
Besigye’s defiance is the latest chapter in a long rivalry with Museveni, underlining continuing disputes about judicial independence and political competition in Uganda.