SOMALINET NEWS ...Archives
UGANDA: JAILED OPPOSITION LEADER’S NORMINATION ACCEPTED December 13, 2005
Apunyu Bonny
<|dr_kizza_esigye.jpg|Dr. Kizza Besigye|left|>(SomaliNet) Uganda's oppostion leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has been allowed by the Electoral Commission (EC) to be nominated as a presidential candidate for the 2006 general elections. Reports Xinhua News Agency.
EC revealed on Tuesday that Besigye can be nominated in absentia. Besigye is currently in Luzira Prison facing charges of treason, concealment of treason, rape and terrorism.
The EC's comments came just a few days after Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya said that Besigye can not be nominated in absentia but should wait for the outcome of the cases against him. This however undemined earlier attempt by Deputy Attorney General, Adolf Mwesige to allow besigye be nominated despite the charges he is facing. Mwsigye earlier claimed that a person facing criminal charges, can be nominated as apresidential candidate, provided he or she has not been convicted and sentenced to a term that exceeds nine months without an option of a fine.
Besigye's political party, Forum for Democratic Change, booked Wednesday Dec. 14 as the nomination day for their party president. Meanwhile, Besigye's trail over treason and rape charges starts on Dec. 19 before Justice John Bosco Katusi at the High Court in Kampala. The Military Court Martial trial on the terrorism chargesis also to start on the same day.The High Court ruled on Monday that Besigye will remain under custody until further notice.