Uganda: Besigye Discussed How He Would Take Power in Athens, Witness Tells Court

What the report says

A prosecution witness in the case against Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye told a Kampala court that an alleged plan to seize power was discussed in detail at a meeting in Athens on September 28, 2024. The witness, Andrew Wilson Orlando, said the talks included possible attacks on prominent people in Kampala and on Entebbe International Airport, claims that were presented as part of the state’s case. Besigye has denied the allegations.

According to the testimony reported by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica, Orlando linked the Athens meeting to an earlier abandoned training plan that was meant to take place in Kisumu, Kenya, in December 2023. He also said the discussions involved weapons, logistics, and other alleged coordination efforts, including contacts in Kenya and Zambia. The witness further claimed he had handed over money during a separate meeting in Geneva to support people he said were involved in the plan.

The report says the court was adjourned until Monday, August 24, when prosecutors are expected to introduce audio and video recordings. More broadly, the case is part of a wider legal process involving accusations that Besigye and co-accused participated in activities intended to overthrow the government, a charge they have rejected.