Government asks court permission to unlock Besigye's phone

The State has taken legal action in the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Nakawa, asking for permission to examine mobile phones taken from opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye. This is part of an investigation into treason charges against him.

The case, registered as Nakawa Criminal Case No. A0008/2025, involves Besigye and two others, Hajji Obeid Lutale and Captain Denis Oola. They are accused of treason and misprision of treason, which has led authorities to look into their communications.

The Uganda Police Force, through Detective Inspector Odyek Benedict, submitted the motion. Investigators suspect that the confiscated devices, including a red mobile phone, two iPhones, a Samsung, and an Itel button phone, may contain crucial evidence. The police are requesting court approval to extract and analyze data from these devices to establish any links to the alleged crimes.

According to investigators, initial findings suggest that the seized phones might have been used in activities related to treason. They also seek permission to keep the devices until the trial is concluded, ensuring the evidence remains intact.

The court has scheduled a hearing for March 7, 2025, to decide whether the police can access the mobile phone data. The ruling will determine if law enforcement can use the information as evidence, which may influence the trial’s outcome.

Besigye’s legal troubles began after the government accused him of involvement in treasonous activities. Initially, his case was being handled by the General Court Martial but was later moved to police jurisdiction following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Authorities believe that analyzing the mobile phones will reveal important communications linked to the charges. However, the move has caused political tensions, as Besigye has been a long-time critic of President Museveni’s government and has contested elections multiple times.

The court’s decision on the motion will have major legal and political effects. If approved, the analysis could strengthen the prosecution’s case. If rejected, it might weaken the government’s ability to prove the allegations against Besigye and his co-accused