KAMPALA — Opposition leader Kizza Besigye appeared in court in Kampala on June 30, 2026, for his treason trial, which subsequently stalled. The proceedings were affected by allegations of lawyer intimidation, including the arrest of lead defense attorney Erias Lukwago and threats made by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

General Kainerugaba, who serves as the head of Uganda's army and is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, made multiple statements targeting media and legal figures. On June 30, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to." He added, "I have had this power since 2017. This power was given to me by my great father." The general also stated, "From now on ALL media in Uganda will follow the rules!" Earlier, on June 29, soldiers shut down the offices of the Nation Media Group, including the Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV station, in Kampala. The National Association of Broadcasters stated that at least six publishing and broadcasting outlets under Nation Media Group were closed.

Besigye indicated reasons for the trial's inability to proceed. "The trial could not proceed while my lawyers feared for their own safety," Besigye said. Lukwago, his lead attorney, was arrested earlier in June and is accused of failing to reveal an alleged plot against the state. Lukwago appeared in court in Kampala on June 30. The High Court scheduled the hearing for Lukwago's bail application for July 3 at 2 p.m.

Besigye has been in detention since his abduction in Kenya in 2024. General Kainerugaba has served as Uganda's top military commander since 2024 and has ordered the arrest of activists, politicians, and lawyers in recent weeks. President Museveni secured a seventh term in office in January 2026. Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, addressed the situation on June 23. Chagutah stated, "The arbitrary detention and torture of Kizza Besigye's lead defence counsel Erias Lukwago points to a continuation of a long and disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests, torture and ill treatment of Kizza Besigye's legal team."