The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has asked the High court to find lawyer Eron Kiiza guilty of contempt of court over a series of social media posts concerning a prosecution witness in the ongoing treason trial involving Dr Kizza Besigye and two others.In an application filed before the High court, the DPP argues that Kiiza’s publications on X (formerly Twitter) could prejudice the proceedings and interfere with the administration of justice.According to court documents, the prosecution accuses Kiiza, one of the defence lawyers in the treason case, of publishing what it describes as prejudicial and derogatory statements on his verified X account about an active criminal trial.The State alleges that the posts identified prosecution witness Andrew Wilson, an American national, questioned his credibility and invited public debate on the merits of a case that is still before court, contrary to the sub judice rule.The DPP is seeking a declaration that Kiiza committed criminal contempt outside the courtroom and wants the court to either commit him to civil prison for a punitive term or impose a punitive fine.The prosecution is also asking the court to order Kiiza to permanently delete the disputed posts, refrain from making further public comments on the evidence or merits of the ongoing trial, and publish a court-approved retraction and unconditional apology on his X account for seven consecutive days.The State is further seeking costs of the application. The application is supported by an affidavit sworn by Detective Inspector of Police Benedict Odyek, an investigator attached to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).Odyek states that Besigye and his two co-accused are facing charges of treason and misprision of treason before the High court and that Kiiza, as one of their advocates, made several social media posts during July 2026 commenting on evidence expected to be presented by the prosecution.According to the affidavit, posts published on July 23, 24 and 25 discussed statements attributed to prosecution witness Andrew Wilson. The State alleges that Kiiza described the witness’s account as contradictory and untrue and, in another post, referred to him as a liar.Investigators say the posts have been preserved through digital forensic processes and contend that they pose “a clear, real and present risk” of prejudicing the trial, intimidating prospective witnesses and undermining the administration of justice.The prosecution also relies on a letter allegedly written by Kiiza on July 16, 2026, to state-appointed defence lawyers Sylvia Namawejje, Sarah Awero and Julius Sserwambala, asking them to cease representing the accused.According to the DPP, the letter, together with the subsequent social media posts, demonstrates an intention to influence the conduct of the proceedings. Prosecutors further argue that the timing of the publications coincided with key evidentiary rulings and was calculated to shape public opinion about the case.The State contends that Kiiza, as an advocate of the High court, was fully aware of the sub judice rule and his professional obligations but nevertheless chose to comment publicly on matters that remain before the court.The High court is expected to determine whether Kiiza should answer the allegations of criminal contempt. The application comes after the State earlier sought orders to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses in the Besigye trial but later withdrew the request, saying it was likely to delay the commencement of the hearing.Despite that withdrawal, the trial has experienced repeated delays, largely arising from disputes over Besigye’s legal representation.Besigye has objected to the arrest of his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, who is on remand facing charges of misprision of treason linked to the same case, and the deportation of his lead counsel, Martha Karua, from Entebbe International Airport.Those issues are the subject of a separate application pending before Justice Simon Peter Kinobe. Meanwhile, trial judge Emmanuel Baguma ruled that Besigye should be represented by state-funded lawyers, a decision the opposition politician rejected, insisting on legal counsel of his own choosing.During one of the court sessions, Besigye protested the proceedings before collapsing in court. He was later admitted to hospital. This is not the first time Kiiza has faced contempt proceedings while representing Besigye.On January 7, 2025, the then General Court Martial summarily convicted Kiiza of contempt of court and sentenced him to nine months’ imprisonment while he was representing Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Kamulegeya.He was released on bail on April 4, 2025, after spending 87 days in Kitalya Prison, when Justice Michael Elubu granted him cash bail of Shs 20 million pending the hearing of his appeal.Responding to the latest application, Kiiza told Uganda Radio Network that the proceedings are intended to silence him and prevent the public from receiving information about the Besigye case.He described the application as unconstitutional and said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions owed both him and the public an apology.“The State has now instituted proceedings to silence me from doing the good work I am doing and also to deny the public information arising from the Besigye matter. This is unconstitutional, and the office of the DPP owes me and the public an apology,” Kiiza said.The post Besigye Trial: DPP petitions court over lawyer Eron Kiiza’s X posts appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.