NAIROBI (Kaab TV) – Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of lawyer Eron Kiiza, who was arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison by a Ugandan military court after representing opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
The organization has condemned the court’s actions as a blatant violation of Uganda’s constitution and international human rights standards.
On January 7, 2025, during a hearing in his client’s case, soldiers prevented Kiiza from entering the courtroom section designated for defence lawyers.
When he protested by shouting and banging on the barricade, he was forcibly removed, assaulted, and placed in the dock alongside his clients.
By the afternoon, the military court had convicted him of “contempt of court” and sentenced him to nine months’ imprisonment at Kitalya Prison.
The arrest of Kiiza follows his representation of Kizza Besigye, who was abducted in Kenya on November 16, 2024, and reappeared days later at a military court in Kampala.
Besigye and fellow opposition member Haji Obeid Lutale were charged with alleged offences related to security and unlawful possession of weaponry.
Amnesty International has also demanded Besigye’s immediate release, calling his abduction a clear violation of international law and fair trial rights.
Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, described the handling of Kiiza’s case as “outrageous.”
Lawyers defending Besigye and Lutale have reported significant obstacles, including the military court’s rejection of over 30 legal representatives and harassment by security personnel.
Amnesty International has reiterated its call for Uganda to stop trying civilians in military courts and to uphold the constitutional and legal protections guaranteed to all citizens.