After mass withdrawal of defense team, Obeid Lutale calls up daughter in treason trial

What the report says

Kampala, Uganda | URN | In Uganda’s treason case involving Hajji Obeid Lutale, the accused has added his daughter, Mariam Lutale, to his legal team after a series of disruptions to the defence. The Independent Uganda reports that the move followed the arrest of lawyer Erias Lukwago, the deportation of Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, and the withdrawal of other defence counsel from the High Court case before Justice Emmanuel Baguma.

According to the report, Mariam Lutale is now part of a four-member team that includes Farouk Kizito Kamulegeya, Wilson Kato and Sylas Ogul from Baraka Legal Associated Advocates. The court said it had received a letter dated August 24, 2026, formally instructing those lawyers to represent Lutale. He is charged alongside former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and Captain Denis Oola.

The article says the defendants had initially been represented by a larger team led by Karua and Lukwago, but those lawyers were no longer available after the developments around their cases and concerns cited by remaining counsel about alleged harassment and safety. Justice Baguma directed the accused to choose from state-brief lawyers when their preferred lawyers were unavailable, but Lutale and Besigye rejected court-appointed counsel. Oola accepted state-brief lawyers while keeping his preferred lawyer.

The trial has continued with prosecution witness Andrew Wilson giving evidence and playing audio and video recordings. The State alleges a wider plot involving meetings in several countries, efforts to obtain weapons and military training, and plans to destabilise the government. Those claims remain allegations in court and have not been determined by the trial judge.