State witness and private security investigator Andrew Wilson has told the High court that he used a covert camera hidden in a mobile power bank to secretly record meetings in which opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye discussed plans to acquire weapons and overthrow the Ugandan government. Wilson claimed that he secretly recorded meetings involving Besigye and Joel Wakayima, a Ugandan based in Switzerland. For the second day running, Wilson was testifying in the treason case in which Besigye, Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola are accused of plotting to overthrow the government.The case is being heard by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, with Besigye being tried in absentia.The witness told court that Wakayima had approached him to facilitate the supply of weapons, including hand grenades, drones and surface-to-air missiles, to a group allegedly associated with Besigye, as well as arrange paramilitary training for between 40 and 60 people.He said the proposed training was to take place in Kisumu, Kenya, but the main airport was being monitored, prompting discussions about alternative routes for transporting the alleged weapons.According to Wilson, Besigye suggested using an airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying he had contacts who could help receive the consignment. Wilson said Besigye told him he had previously used the same airport to receive a similar consignment.He testified that he later began giving Besigye and Wakayima excuses for failing to deliver the weapons after deciding to cooperate with Ugandan security agencies.Wilson told court that on November 28, 2023, he met Wakayima and Besigye at a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Besigye allegedly suggested that they continue the meeting at his apartment, but Wilson declined, saying he had already prepared his own apartment with recording equipment.The meeting was subsequently held at Wilson’s apartment and the discussions included alleged plans to acquire weapons and attack Kampala city. He said he asked Besigye whether he had the capacity to capture and control the city, to which Besigye allegedly responded that he would rely on senior military contacts.The witness also testified that the assassination of President Yoweri Museveni was discussed, with the alleged plotters considering the use of drone airstrikes.Wilson said the group was concerned that directly linking the assassination to Besigye would damage his reputation and therefore discussed attributing the killing to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).He further testified that Besigye allegedly said he had previously spied on the President.Wilson told court that his associates were prepared to provide $5 million (about Shs18 billion), which would be deposited in a Dubai bank account with Besigye listed as a signatory.He said he repeatedly suggested involving National Unity Platform (NUP) leader and former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine, but Besigye allegedly rejected the proposal.Wilson further testified that another meeting was planned for June 2024 to finalise arrangements for the proposed Kisumu training.He said the discussions included plans to cause civil unrest, including using a drone to interfere with a commercial aircraft at Entebbe International Airport and then using the media to blame the government.According to the witness, the broader plan was to create chaos and have the military take over the government. He also testified that the group discussed obtaining counterfeit $5,000 notes, worth about Shs18.6 million, to facilitate the Kisumu operation and destabilise Uganda’s economy.The state witness further testified that Wakayima allegedly proposed detonating a hand grenade at Café Javas on Acacia Avenue in Kampala because government officials were said to frequent the premises.He said Wakayima was later arrested in Geneva and that Besigye provided contacts for people who could assist in securing his release.Wilson told court that he later travelled to Kisumu for the alleged training, where several people were arrested, including 36 Ugandans who were subsequently brought back to Uganda and charged with terrorism-related offences.He said Besigye was in Nairobi around the time of the arrests. Wilson also testified about another meeting with Besigye in Athens, Greece, on September 29, 2024.He said the meeting took place in the basement of Athens International Airport after Besigye returned from the United States and was due to attend a conference in Greece.Wilson said he travelled with an associate who remained at a distance while recording the meeting and providing security. The witness was led in evidence by chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka, assisted by assistant director of public prosecutions (DPP) Thomas Jatiko.Capt Denis Oola is represented by Sylvia Namawejje Ebitu, Sarah Awero and Julius Sserwambala, while Lutale has no lawyers.The prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale and Oola held meetings in Uganda, Kenya, Greece and Switzerland to solicit funding, acquire weapons and organise paramilitary activities aimed at overthrowing the government.The State says it will rely on witness testimony, audio and video recordings, social media communications, immigration records and telephone data in support of its case.The post Besigye plotted to bomb Cafe Javas, state spy tells court appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.