Ugandan Lawyer Arrested and Tortured While Defending Opposition Leader

Eron Kiiza, a human rights lawyer representing Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, has been arrested and reportedly tortured following his detention by military personnel on January 7. Kiiza was entering a military courtroom to advocate for Besigye and his aide Haji Obeid Lutale when he was seized, subsequently convicted of contempt of court, and sentenced to nine months in prison on the same day.

Reports from colleagues state that Kiiza displayed visible signs of abuse, including severe swelling on various parts of his body. Legal representatives who visited him in Kitalya prison cited routine violence against arrested individuals as a common practice within the Ugandan military justice system. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned his sentencing and called for his immediate release, arguing that it violates Ugandan law and international human rights standards.

In response, a spokesperson for the Ugandan armed forces dismissed the claims of torture as false, asserting that Kiiza's rights have not been infringed and his detention adheres to Ugandan legal provisions. The environment for lawyers in Uganda has sharply deteriorated, with colleagues expressing shock at the attacks on legal professionals amid increasing governmental repression as the nation approaches general elections.

Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been a prominent critic of President Yoweri Museveni's long-standing rule, faces serious charges that many say are politically motivated. This situation is part of a broader trend of escalating repression against opposition figures in Uganda.