Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye remanded to maximum security prison after being charged with treason

 

Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye was on Wednesday remanded to a maximum security prison in Kampala after being charged with treason and organizing protests against the re-election of long-time President Yoweri Museveni.

Kizza Besigye was brought before a magistrate's court in Kampala to be charged before he was taken away under heavy guard to a jail on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Solomon Muyita, a spokesman for the judiciary, said Besigye had to be charged afresh after being transferred from Moroto, where he had been detained after been charged of treason the previous week. Treason has a maximum penalty of death upon conviction. Besigye will return to court on June 1.

Yusuf Nsibambi, a lawyer for Besigye, said his client had no legal representation when he was presented in court.

Besigye came second in just conclude presidential elections held in February, but rejected the official results as fraudulent and called for an international audit of the results.

The polls were marred by violence and delays in delivery of voting materials in areas seen as opposition strongholds, as well as a government shutdown of social media. Election observers cited many irregularities, with the European Union delegation saying the election commission lacked independence.