Obeid Lutale Reappoints Legal Team

What the report says

Hajj Obeid Lutale has reshaped his defence team in the treason case involving him and Dr Kizza Besigye, after previous lawyers withdrew from the matter. According to Nile Post, the court was told on Tuesday that Lutale had engaged his daughter, Mariam Lutale, together with Farouk Kizito Kamulegeya, Wilson Kato and Sylas Ogul of Baraka Legal Associates Advocates.

The report says an additional lawyer, Bayern Turinawe, also appeared in court, which prompted trial judge Emmanuel Baguma to seek clarification because the court had initially been informed of only four names. Turinawe later explained that he was appearing specifically for Lutale. The development comes as Besigye’s absence from court has complicated the defence side of the case, with Lutale having previously relied on Besigye’s legal team and experience.

Nile Post reports that the prosecution is still leading evidence tied to alleged meetings in Athens and Geneva, while earlier testimony has also referred to events in Nairobi. The article notes that Lutale has not featured heavily in the evidence from Athens and Geneva so far, although Nairobi material may become more significant if audio and video evidence is presented there. His co-accused, Captain Denis Oola, has already accepted state-appointed lawyers.

More broadly, the case remains part of Uganda’s closely watched treason proceedings, which have drawn attention because of the senior political and legal figures involved and the shifting representation on both sides.