PH
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says he cannot influence the release of his long-time rival Kizza Besigye, who is locked up at Luzira prison on an allegedly trumped up treason charge, reports the Daily Monitor.
Besigye was arrested and charged with treason a day before the swearing in of Museveni in May.
The veteran opposition leader was held after he staged his own swearing-in ceremony as president.
The “swearing-in” was filmed and racked up tens of thousands of views on YouTube.
Besigye came second in presidential elections held in February, but rejected the official results as fraudulent and called for an international audit of the results, one of the reasons cited for charging him with treason.
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.
Museveni was quoted as saying he had no jurisdiction over the release of suspects awaiting trial.
“It is court that releases people,” Museveni was quoted saying.
