Veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya, have told the High court they will not abandon their preferred legal team led by Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. They argue that any attempt to compel them to accept alternative lawyers violates their constitutional right to a fair trial.In a letter dated July 1, 2026, addressed to Criminal Division judge Emmanuel Baguma from Luzira Government Prison, the two accused say they remain committed to being represented by Karua, Lukwago and any other lawyers of their choosing, despite the fact that both are currently unavailable.Besigye and Lutale accuse the state of deliberately dismantling their legal team by arresting Lukwago and deporting Karua, thereby denying them the opportunity to adequately prepare their defence.According to the letter, Lukwago was arrested after attempting to serve court documents relating to their human rights enforcement application. He was subsequently charged with misprision of treason, denied bail and remanded to prison.The two also cite Karua’s deportation from Entebbe International Airport and her subsequent designation as a prohibited immigrant. They say Karua had been appointed to lead their defence and argue that her removal was intended to deny them legal representation of their choice and compel them to accept state-approved lawyers.Their complaint follows directions issued by Justice Baguma during proceedings on June 30 in relation to their latest bail application and a separate human rights enforcement case against the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, together with Col Peter Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga, who are accused of participating in their arrest in Nairobi in November 2024.Besigye and Lutale fault the judge for proceeding with both matters despite being informed that they currently have no access to their preferred legal team. Regarding the bail application, they object to the court’s directive requiring the Attorney General to file a response by July 1, any rejoinder by July 2, and fixing the hearing for July 3.They argue that the three-day schedule is unrealistic for accused persons in prison who have no legal representation. According to the letter, preparing affidavits, serving court documents and consulting lawyers while in detention cannot reasonably be accomplished within such a short period.The pair also question why the bail application, which had remained pending beyond the timelines set out in the Bail Guidelines for Courts of Judicature, was suddenly scheduled for hearing shortly after their legal team had been disrupted.They have asked the court to adjourn the hearing for at least three weeks to allow them sufficient time to prepare their case. On the human rights enforcement application, Besigye and Lutale acknowledge that the court had initially acted expeditiously in fixing the matter for hearing. However, they argue that the arrest of Lukwago and deportation of Karua have fundamentally altered the circumstances under which the case was to proceed.They also question whether the respondents – Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Col Peter Ahimbisibwe and Lt Col Ephraim Byaruhanga – were ever properly served with the application.According to the letter, although three affidavits in reply have been filed, none was sworn by the named respondents themselves.They say they intend to seek orders requiring both the respondents and the individuals who filed the affidavits to appear in court for cross-examination before the applications are determined.The accused also reject Justice Baguma’s suggestion that they appoint alternative lawyers, arguing that the proposal ignores the practical realities of incarceration.They further complain that despite previous court orders allowing their lawyers to consult them using electronic devices, they have been unable to properly review the prosecution’s evidence in preparation for trial.Besigye and Lutale have since filed another application seeking a determination of issues surrounding their legal representation, which they describe as the most urgent matter before the court.They argue that until the application is heard and their preferred legal team is restored, it would be impossible to fairly proceed with the bail application, the human rights case or preparations for the main trial.Besigye and Lutale were arrested in Nairobi in November 2024 during a book launch organised by Karua. The prosecution, however, alleges that the two had travelled to Kenya to coordinate plans to overthrow the Ugandan government.It further claims that several opposition politicians and activists, including Erias Lukwago, participated in meetings held outside Uganda where plans to remove the government were allegedly discussed.Court records also indicate that some of the meetings were covertly recorded by an American national identified as Andrew Wilson, whom prosecutors describe as an informant who later worked with Ugandan security agencies.The post Besigye, Lutale reject alternative lawyers, insist on Karua and Lukwago appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.