American-British national Andrew Wilson Orlando has testified in the treason case against Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale, with claims that his interactions with Besigye were part of a government operation.
According to an update posted on Besigye’s social media platforms by an administrator, Orlando told the High Court in Kampala that his engagements with the veteran opposition politician were conducted as a “sting operation” on behalf of the Ugandan government.
Orlando is the main state witness lined up against Besigye and Lutale in a case that has attracted significant attention in Uganda and beyond.
The administrator described Orlando as being at the centre of the events that allegedly led to the arrest of Besigye and Lutale in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024.
The social media update further alleged that Orlando initiated, facilitated and carried out the operation that culminated in the two Ugandans being arrested.
Besigye, one of President Yoweri Museveni’s most prominent political opponents over the past 25 years, faces charges linked to allegations that he plotted to overthrow the Ugandan government.
The former presidential candidate has previously denied wrongdoing in cases brought against him and has maintained that the charges are politically motivated.
Besigye’s case has also drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding his arrest in Kenya before he was transferred to Uganda to face prosecution.
The latest development comes as the High Court continues hearing evidence from the prosecution as it seeks to establish its case against Besigye and Lutale.
The administrator also highlighted that Orlando’s testimony was given in the absence of Besigye after trial judge Emmanuel Baguma ordered that the opposition leader be tried in absentia.
The decision has added another dimension to the proceedings, with Besigye’s supporters continuing to question the circumstances surrounding his prosecution and the evidence being presented against him.
Besigye played a role in the National Resistance Army (NRA), the rebel movement that brought Museveni to power in 1986, before later becoming one of his most vocal political challengers.
The latest testimony is expected to be closely scrutinised as the court determines the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence and whether it establishes the allegations against the accused.
The prosecution and the defence are expected to present their respective cases as the trial proceeds, with the court ultimately determining whether the charges have been proved beyond the required legal threshold.