• Kizza Besigye has been charged with treachery, which carries the death penalty in Uganda.
• The ruling intensifies legal challenges for the opposition leader ahead of the 2026 elections.
• Amnesty International has condemned the proceedings as a violation of human rights.
• Military courts have been criticized for suppressing political opposition in Uganda.
• Current President Yoweri Museveni's political future remains uncertain amid these developments.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP/Al Jazeera) — In a significant development for Uganda's political landscape, a military court has ruled that prominent opposition leader Kizza Besigye will face trial for the charge of treachery, a serious accusation that could result in the death penalty if he is convicted. This ruling was announced on Tuesday, intensifying the legal difficulties Besigye faces as the country approaches the 2026 presidential elections.

Besigye, who has run for the presidency four times, went missing in Nairobi on November 16, only to reappear days later before the military court in Kampala along with his assistant Obeid Lutale. Initially charged with illegal possession of a firearm, the prosecution later amended the charges to include treachery, which surprised defense attorneys. A third suspect, a serving army officer, was introduced, adding complexity to the case.

At 68 years old, Besigye has a long history of political activism and has faced multiple arrests and assaults. Despite this, he has never been convicted of any crime. He has categorically denied the charges against him and has been remanded in custody since his arrest.

Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have criticized the Ugandan government’s actions, stating that Besigye's “abduction clearly violated international human rights law.” Human Rights Watch echoed these concerns, arguing that the military court is being misused to undermine political opposition.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, faces pressure regarding his potential re-election bid, as he has yet to confirm whether he will run again. Observers worry about the absence of a clear successor within the ruling National Resistance Movement, heightening fears of an unpredictable political transition. Despite this landscape, Besigye remains a vigorous critic of Museveni, having previously served as his military assistant before their fallout over perceived authoritarianism in the 1990s. The unfolding events surrounding Besigye's case continue to capture the attention of Ugandans as the nation navigates its complex political future.

For more details, visit the original articles on AP News and Al Jazeera.