Kenya police planted two pistols in Besigye’s room, “stupid” state witness tells court

What the report says

A prosecution witness in the treason case against Ugandan opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye and co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale told Uganda’s High Court that the arrest scene in Nairobi appeared to have been staged, according to The Observer. The witness, Wilson Andrew, also known as Orlando, said it seemed Kenyan police may have planted two pistols in the apartment where the men were detained. The testimony came during cross-examination by lawyers for Lutale.

The Observer reported that Orlando described travelling from Uganda to Kenya ahead of a meeting with Besigye and Lutale in November 2024, and said he was handed over to Kenyan security operatives at the border. He told court that when he entered the apartment, two loaded pistols were already on a table. He also said security operatives arranged the setting and that he helped lure the suspects into the room.

The witness further said he had used covert recording devices during the meeting, but his account of where the audio and video files were stored was uncertain. He acknowledged editing some footage submitted to investigators and said he had expected payment from the Ugandan government for his role in the case. The Observer’s report highlights the disputed nature of the evidence in a politically sensitive prosecution that has drawn attention because of Besigye’s profile and the cross-border circumstances of the arrest.