Kampala- The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a scathing statement accusing High Court Judge Dr. Douglas Karekona Singiza of deliberately delaying the release of Dr. Kizza Besigye, a prominent opposition figure, and of perpetrating a series of human rights abuses.
In a press release, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe asserts that Dr. Besigye’s detention is unlawful following a recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified the trial of civilians in military courts. The court’s decision in Attorney General v. Hon Michael Kabaziguruka effectively removed the legal basis for Dr. Besigye’s continued imprisonment.
“Consequently, there is no trial to transfer to civilian courts, and the Director of Public Prosecutions has no basis to take over the case,” said Asiimwe. “Dr. Besigye is therefore entitled to immediate and unconditional release.”
The ULS’s condemnation focuses on Judge Singiza’s handling of Dr. Besigye’s habeas corpus petition, accusing him of “arbitrarily denying…an expeditious hearing, contravening the Constitution and the law.” They further claim this is not an isolated incident, citing a similar delay in a petition filed by the ULS on behalf of another member, Adv Eron Kiiza.
Habeas corpus applications, which demand that an individual be brought before a court to determine the legality of their detention, are meant to be treated with urgency. The ULS argues that Judge Singiza’s actions demonstrate a “blatant disregard for the law and human rights.”
The press release also raises serious concerns about Judge Singiza’s past conduct, alleging his complicity in human rights violations, including the torture of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, which ultimately led to Rukirabashaija’s exile.
The ULS is calling for immediate intervention from the Judiciary Leadership, demanding a review of Judge Singiza’s conduct and disciplinary action. They are also urging the international community to hold Uganda accountable for its human rights obligations.
“The international community must also hold Uganda accountable for its human rights obligations and ensure that justice is served,” the statement concludes.